Rumors are flying surrounding what will happen with Illinois Workers’ Compensation.
The recent election for Governor of Illinois will certainly bring some changes that will affect Workers’ Compensation cases.
The Governor elect is seen as a fiscal conservative who will favor business and insurance interests.
Major changes dealing with the primary cause of the work injury and relying solely on AMA guidelines for settlement value will need legislative approval. This means the democrat controlled House and Senate will need to agree with the Governor to pass anything this drastic.
The biggest change in the beginning will come in personnel.
The Commission will be under new leadership, and the Governor will have the authority to appoint new arbitrators and Commissioners.
The Chairman of the Commission will most likely send the message to Arbitrators and Commissioners that case values should be lower, and that decisions regarding connection between the the injury and medical treatment must tilt in favor of the employer.
Strictly speaking the Arbitrators and Commissioners are free to do what they want. However, it is naive to think that they will not respond in a way that is favorable to the Governor because they want to be reappointed.
What this means for the injured worker is lower settlements and tougher stances on cases with problems.
Questions about your work comp case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.