What Matters In Your Injury Case

Too many people think that their injury is not bad and that they will not need to file either a work comp claim or injury claim against the insurance company.

The problem is that it is usually too late to change your mind if the injury becomes worse or there are costly medical tests or treatment required.

A few simple steps will protect any potential Illinois Workers’ Compensation claim or injury case you may have.

Report your injury immediately and make a written report.

Make copies of all your reports.

Go to the doctor right away.

Tell the doctor how the injury happened, where it happened, and all the body parts involved.

These straight forward, truthful actions will preserve any future claim you may have.

If your injury worsens, a written injury report at the time of the accident proves where it happened and what happened.

The doctor’s records are evidence of the need for medical treatment and what body parts were injured.

Many injury cases are lost at the initial stage of the accident.

Delay in reporting and seeking medical treatment gives the insurance company the opportunity to plant doubt in the Judge’s mind.

Protect your injury case. Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp and Injury lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

 

What to Expect from Your Work Comp Case

In Illinois the Workers’ Compensation law sets forth specific benefits for injured workers.

The benefits include payment of related medical services and treatment.

This includes doctors’ visits, injections, prescriptions, physical therapy, surgery, MRIs and xrays.

It also includes payment for time missed from work.

If you miss 13 days or less of work, then the first three days are not paid.

Payment is based on your average weekly wage for the 52 weeks before you were injured.

You are paid 2/3 of this amount. There is no tax on these benefits.

You are also entitled to a settlement for your injury.

The settlement is based on a certain number of weeks times 60 percent of your average weekly wage.

The settlement amount is negotiated relative to the injury, the medical treatment, and the permanent restrictions.

Pain and suffering does not enter into the calculation.

If you are not receiving payment for being off work, or payment of your medical bills, or your settlement you need to contact an experienced Illinois Workers’ Compensation lawyer.

Questions about your work injury case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

How to Work as a Team with Your Lawyer

Working together with your lawyer really does improve the value of your case.

The reason is that you know better than anyone what has happened to you and how it is effecting your daily life, and your lawyer knows the law and how it applies to your situation.

Blending the facts and the law together is what makes your case powerful and convinces the Judge that you should be awarded maximum value according to the law.

Your part of the team work is to keep the lawyer informed of your medical bills, medical treatment, and what the doctors are telling you about your condition.

The lawyer’s role is to explain what will best convince the Judge of your disability, limitations, and permanent restrictions.

Make sure to keep in frequent contact with your lawyer so you may discuss different approaches and ideas.

It is very important to keep up with your doctor visits and constantly inform your doctor of your problems and limitations.

Make sure that you ask the doctor for prescriptions for assistive devices such as braces, canes, walkers or aids such as disability parking placards.

Your lawyer will want to discuss with you what types of questions will be asked at the trial or hearing well ahead of time so you can prepare.

Questions about how to improve your team work? Feel free to contact Illinois work injury and Social Security Disability lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.