Back Injuries and Workers Compensation Settlements


In Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases, body parts are given a value in terms of weeks.

For instance, the back is worth 500 weeks.

This is an example of a settlement:

Assume you have a surgery that is worth 20 percent of the back. 20 percent of 500 weeks equals 100 weeks.

Assume your average weekly wage is $500 per week. The Work Comp Law says you are entitled to 60 percent of your average weekly wage or $300 per week in this example.

$300 times 100 weeks equals $30,000. That is the value of your settlement.

As we have discussed in other posts, the nature of your injury, the type of surgery, and your restrictions make a difference in the amount of your settlement.

Questions about the value of your Workman’s Compensation case? Feel free to call Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.