Settlements

Work Comp- Size of Your Check Matters

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In Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases the amount of money you make at your job makes a difference.

Your settlement or award amount depends on your wage.

The reason is that the formula used is your wage times 60 percent times a certain number of weeks for the settlement. And 66 percent times your wage for your off work pay.

The law provides that your average weekly wage is based on the 52 weeks before your injury.

If you miss days or weeks because of illness or other reasons, then these partial weeks should not be used to count toward your average weekly wage.

If you work a second job and the employer where you were injured knows of the second job, then you can add the second job to boost your average weekly wage at the job where you were injured.

If you make more money after your injury date you cannot add this your weekly wage.

The other important reason to make sure that your wage is as high is possible is that if you can no longer work at your old job, then you may eligible for a wage differential. The higher the wage difference the better for you.

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

Illinois Work Comp Settlements

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What should you do if you get a Workers’ Compensation Settlement offer, or if the insurance company does not make you an offer?

The most important thing to know is that pursuant to Illinois Law you are entitled to a settlement if you are injured on the job.

The settlement may vary from a small amount to a very large sum, but you are entitled to something.

Once you receive an offer you should check with an experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney.

A lawyer can explain the value of your case and whether the insurance company is making a fair offer.

Some Work Comp insurance companies will tell that your case is not worth anything, or they will fail to make any offer and hope you go away.

If this happens you need to hire a lawyer and go after your settlement.

The advantage to hiring a Work Comp lawyer is that it does not cost you anything until you make a recovery.

The fee is 20 percent of your recovery.

You need to protect yourself because insurance companies are taking advantage of people who do not understand the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law.

Make sure that you check with an experienced Illinois Work Lawyer to protect your rights and get the settlement you deserve.

Questions about your work injury case? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Illinois Work Comp And Your Back Injury

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Back injuries on the job are common and dangerous.

The problem is that they become chronic and sometimes need surgery.

Any time surgery is involved there can be numerous complications. Ranging from scar tissue, to hardware that needs to be removed, and chronic pain.

Most work injuries that involve the back are straight forward.

Such as, lifting that caused a herniated disc, or a fall that injured the back, or something that struck your spine.

However, there are some back injuries that do not surface until some days or months later because of repetitive lifting or other activities.

Or you may notice some muscle pain that later develops into more serious pain that is difficult to trace to your work.

The most important thing to do is to go the doctor as soon as you notice problems with the back.

You should also explain to the doctor the connection between your work activities and your back pain.

You should also be cautious in settling your back injury claim too soon.

Back problems tend to come back later on, especially if you have had surgery.

If you settle your case, then you are on your own for any future treatment or surgeries.

You may need open medical to protect yourself down the road with a back injury.

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

Illinois Workers’ Compensation and Amputations

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Illinois law sets forth specific numbers of weeks for amputations of fingers, hands, arms and legs.

However, the value of your case may not stop there.

Limitations and restrictions that result from your amputation may also be factored into the final value of your settlement or award.

Loss of fingers may result in problems using your hand. Many jobs require frequent use of your hands. This may result in a job loss or a job change.

Of course, a loss of a limb may be very limiting.

Without an arm there are very few jobs you can perform.

The loss a leg will confine you to a sit down job at best.

These type of injuries will most likely result in wage loss situations or permanent total disability.

You may have to be involved in extensive job searches to establish your wage loss or that you can no longer work but it will dramatically improve your settlement value.

The other thing to remember is that it may be worth filing for Social Security Disability if you can no longer work due to your amputation.

Social Security Disability also depends on your age, your education, and your past work history.

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

How Do I Get My Workers’ Compensation Settlement?

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In Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases the object is to get your money and get your medical bills paid.

The only way to get your settlement is to ask for it.

Some insurance companies will ignore you and hope you go away.

The only way to get more money for your settlement is ask for it.

Keep asking.

The worst that can happen is the insurance company says no.

The truth about the way insurance companies do business is that want to avoid you and hope you go away.

This saves them a lot of money.

Many insurance companies will not pay the medical bills and hope the providers stop asking for payment.

Many insurance companies will want to pay you the lowest amount possible to settle your case.

You need some leverage to increase the offer from the insurance company.

This may include records from your doctor showing the need for more treatment or restrictions.

It may include comparisons of similar cases that show that the value of your case is worth more than you are being offered.

Eventually, you may need to show that you are willing to go to trial to fight for increased money.

Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.