Law

Illinois Workers’ Compensation and the Future

Dirk May Illinois Work Comp Attorney, Illinois Work Comp Lawyer, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

There is a new Governor in town and he has come out of the gate with one of his first proposals and it is to change the Illinois Worker’s Compensation law.

This is not really surprising because he campaigned as a business friendly guy and his supporters hate the current Work Comp system.

There are no bills introduced with specific language describing the proposal in detail.

However, the outline of the Governor’s proposal involves requiring the major cause of the injury to be work related instead of an aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and making value of the case depend on a doctor’s rating.

The practical impact of these ideas is that it will reduce the number of injury cases that will be accepted and it will dramatically reduce the value of settlements.

These proposals will not effect work injuries that have already happened.

And just because the Governor makes these proposals does not mean it will become law.

The House and Senate must vote on these proposals and pass them into law.

The real question is whether the majority of Democrats in the Illinois Legislature will trade away the interests of injured workers for something they want, such as a tax increase?

The next 6 months or so will reveal whether there will be any Work Comp changes and to what extent.

I will keep you updated.

Questions about your work injury case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-872-4371.

Back Injuries and Illinois Work Comp Cases

Dirk May Help, Illinois Work Comp Attorney, Illinois Work Comp Lawyer, Law, Workers Compensation

Whether it be from falls, lifting, or being struck with objects, back injuries are one of the leading injuries in Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases.

If you suffer a back injury you should be aware how to help your case and maximize your settlement.

The first thing you should do after hurting your back is to file an accident report with your employer as soon as possible.

The injury report will detail how you hurt yourself, the time, date and place of accident, and body parts injured and any witnesses. You should also notify your supervisor. This will protect you from your employer claiming the injury did not happen at work.

The next step is to make sure you get medical attention. The sooner the better. You must tell all medical personnel that your injury happened at work, explain how it happened, and describe all body parts injured. Failing to seek medical treatment promptly and failing to tell staff how that you were injured at work will damage your case. The insurance company may argue that you are not seriously injured because you have not seen a doctor immediately, or that you were not injured at work if it is not described in the records.

You should also treat with a doctor consistently and follow treatment recommendations. Once again this shows the seriousness of your injury and that you are not the cause of any additional problems because you did not follow doctor’s orders.

You must also follow your doctor’s restrictions. Some insurance companies will send an investigator to follow the injured worker and attempt to video tape them doing things that show that their back injury is not severe. Of course, this will seriously reduce the value of their case.

Questions about your Workers’ Compensation injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

When Should I Get A Work Comp Attorney?

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It is always a good idea to get your attorney involved in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation process as soon as possible.

This protects you from damaging your case and makes sure that you maximize your settlement.

If you wait too long, then a lawyer may not be able to help you.

For instance, an experienced Work Comp lawyer can help you deal with the insurance company from the beginning and prevent mistakes that you may not be able to recover from.

Using a lawyer signals to the insurance company that you are serious and that they will not be able to take advantage of you.

You will definitely need a lawyer if the insurance company is low balling you or denying your claim. Your lawyer will be able to get you into court and prepare your for the hearing before the arbitrator. The lawyer will explain the questions you be asked and the evidence you will need.

The ideal situation is to go to an experienced Illinois Work Comp lawyer and get immediate assistance with filing your application, getting the medical records and bills and medical testimony, and preparing you for the hearing questions. This gives you the best shot at winning and getting the best settlement possible.

There are no attorney fees unless you win, and they are paid at the time you receive your money so this makes it much easier to get a lawyer to help you.

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