Beware when a Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company makes you a settlement offer.
Some adjusters will tell you that you are only entitled to a low amount because their doctor has valued your case at a certain percentage of the injured body part.
This is called an AMA impairment rating.
In Illinois an insurance company can send you to a doctor of their choice and ask for an impairment rating.
Remember, the insurance company is paying the doctor for their opinion and the doctor understands who is paying the bill.
An example, is that the doctor will examine you for less than 30 minutes and give an opinion that your arm injury that resulted in surgery is worth 5 percent of the arm. In Illinois, an arm is valued at 253 weeks. 5 percent of the arm equals approximately 12.5 weeks. 60 percent of your average weekly wage is multiplied by the 12.5 weeks to come up with the settlement value.
The problem is that AMA guidelines usually result in a low impairment value.
What the insurance company does not tell you is that AMA ratings are only one factor in determining settlement value in Illinois.
The real value of the injury with surgery may be closer to 20 percent of the arm.
This is four times the value the insurance company has offered you.
As you can see, relying on the insurance company alone may result in a very low settlement for you that is not close to true value.
Make sure that you talk with an experienced Illinois Work Comp lawyer before you settle your case.
It will not cost you anything upfront. All Illinois Workers’ Compensation lawyers are paid on a contingent fee basis, and they will be able to tell if you are being made a fair offer.
Questions about your work injury case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Comp Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.