Source: Capitol Fax.com – Your Illinois News Radar » Inside the secretive “working groups”
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No surprise that Work Comp changes are a topic of intense interest with the Governor and the legislature. Injured workers in Illinois will most likely have some of their rights removed and reduced by the end of the summer. Keep your eyes on this.
Illinois’ Democratic House speaker says he’s scheduling a vote on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to allow employees to opt out of unions.Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced Thursday the vote is scheduled for May 14, even though the governor hasn’t filed a bill with the Legislature.Rauner has spent recent months pitching city councils, county commissioners and business groups on the idea of local “empowerment zones.” The zones would allow voters to make union membership voluntary,
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There is no actual legislation yet filed regarding changes to the Illinois Work Comp law. However, the Speaker of the Illinois House may be doing this as a symbolic action. The real negotiations will come closer to the end of the session when the entire budget is voted upon. Keep your eyes on how injured workers’ rights may be affected.
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Tragic end in a bad place. That is why Illinois has laws to protect the elderly in nursing homes.
This is a composite of different discussions and experiences I have had with insurance company staff, attorneys and people who have had sought workers’ compensation in Illinois.
This fictional interview takes poetic license to give you an idea of what happens at an insurance company when a work injury occurs.
What is your job?
I am a claims adjuster for a major insurance company. I handle work comp claims from time of injury until settlement.
How many claimants would estimate show up without a lawyer?
Quite a few do not have a lawyer.
What do you notice about claimants who do not have a lawyer?
They do not understand the process and why their bills are not being paid, or why they are denied, or the rights they have under the Illinois law.
What would you advise them if your boss would not find out?
Make sure you report your injury right away and go to the doctor immediately and tell them you were hurt at work.
This makes your case much smoother. You are also entitled to a settlement at the end of the case. If you are hurt make sure that you get all your medical treatment before you settle your case. Once you settle. It is all over and you have to pay for any future medical treatment.
Why do you think some people go into something so important as a work injury case without a lawyer?
They think that they have to pay a lot of money to get a lawyer to represent them.
They do not understand that the lawyers only get paid if they win, and the State limits how much the lawyer charges.
They do not understand that the insurance company has lawyers helping us every day.
Make sure that you do not make these mistakes in your Work Injury case. Feel free to call Illinois Work Comp Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.
This is a composite of different discussions and experiences I have had with Social Security staff, attorneys and people who have had sought disability.
This fictional interview takes poetic license to give you an idea of what happens at a Social Security Disability hearing site.
What is your job?
I give the claimants the computer disc with their disability information just before the hearing, and get their paperwork completed.
I also help the Judge gather the information for the hearing and do whatever else the Judge may need to help the hearing run smoothly.
How many claimants would estimate show up without a lawyer?
I would guess about 35 percent of the people do not have a lawyer.
What do you notice about claimants who do not have a lawyer?
They really do not understand what is going to happen at the hearing. I have to walk them through the paperwork and how to open the electronic file.
And they do not know what is going to happen in the hearing.
What have you seen in the hearing?
The people without a lawyer do not know how to explain to the Judge why they are disabled under our rules.
They have no idea how to respond to the vocational expert when they testify the person can do a job.
Why do you think some people go into something so important as a Social Security Disability hearing without a lawyer?
They think that they have to pay a lot of money to get a lawyer to represent them.
They do not understand that the lawyers only get paid if they win, and the government limits how much the lawyer charges.
Make sure that you are well prepared for your Social Security Disability case. Feel free to call Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.