Settlements

Lifetime Benefits

Dirk May Help, Insurance, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation

Insurance Companies do not give away money. Especially in these tough economic times.

If you are permanently and totally disabled they will make you work hard for your money.

You will have to do a long and exhaustive job search. This will mean filing many job applications per week and keeping detailed records.

The Workers Compensation insurance company will have to pay you to do the job search, so this will be just like working another job.

If you do this and you are truly unable to work, then you will be adding a large amount of money to the value of your case.

If you do not carry out the job search, then you will be losing a large amount of money that the Workers Compensation insurance company should be paying you.

The choice is really yours.

Do you need a Workers Comp lawyer who understands what the insurance company is doing and who will work as a partner with you to get the benefits you are entitled to under the Illinois Workers Compensation Law?

Call me, Illinois Workers Compensation attorney Dirk May, at 309-827-4371.

Work Comp Settlement Examples

Dirk May Help, Insurance, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation

In Illinois, Workers Compensation Settlements are not standardized. In other words, each settlement is different.

Here is an example of how a settlement is figured.

Assume that you have a herniated disk in your back, and surgery is not recommended. The doctor says that you are released from care and you can return to your job.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides that the back is worth 500 weeks in total.

Assume both sides agree that the disk problem is worth 10% of the back. 10 percent of 500 weeks equals 50 weeks.

The last part of the settlement is your wage. The law provides that your wage is figured on the 52 weeks before you were injured.
Assume that you make $500 per week. You then must multiply your average weekly wage by 60 percent. $500 times 60% equals $300.

$300 times 50 weeks equals $15,000

As you can see, your wage makes a big difference in your settlement value.

Questions about how your wage was figured, or why the insurance company offered you a certain amount? Call Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

What does it cost to hire a Workmans Compensation Lawyer?

Dirk May Help, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

Everyone wants to know what they will have to pay for a good or service. Especially, what will be the cost for a lawyer.

The good news in Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases is that there are no up front fees.

You do not have to pay a fee to have the lawyer start on your case.

You also do not have to pay hourly fees as your case moves forward.

You only pay 20% of whatever the attorney recovers for you. Usually at the end of the case. However, if the Insurance company denies you benefits and the lawyer gets them to pay temporary total disability benefits while you are off work then the lawyer can charge you 20% of those payments also.

The lawyer will often pay all your costs-medical records, depositions- for you upfront. You will pay for the costs from your settlement.

This makes it easier for you to hire a lawyer to protect your rights.

Paying 20% of your settlement or award is usually well worth it to make sure you get the correct amount, and to make certain you get future medical treatment if necessary.

Questions about using a lawyer? Please call Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

When do You need a Workers Comp Lawyer?

Dirk May Help, Law, Medical, Settlements, Workers Compensation

You need to contact a Workers Compensation Lawyer immediately if you find yourself in one of these situations:

* You are injured and not being given medical treatment;

* Your medical bills are not being paid;

* You are off work and are not being paid 66% of your average weekly wage;

* You have not been made an offer to settle your case;

* The settlement offer made to you is not fair; or

* You think you will need future medical treatment.

Need to talk to an Illinois Work Comp attorney? Call me, Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Attorney Fees in Work Comp

Dirk May Help, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

In Illinois, all Workers’ Compensation attorney fees are based on a contingent fee. This means that you only pay the lawyer if you recover money. The fee in Illinois is 20 percent of your recovery.

In some type of court cases the other side must pay your attorney fees. However, in Workers Compensation cases you must pay your attorneys fees out of your settlement or award.

In addition, you must your own costs out of your settlement. For example, you have to pay for medical records and for doctor’s depositions and for court transcripts. These are usually paid at the end of the case.

The good part of the contingent fees system is you do not have to pay any fees up front when you are injured and not working. Contingent fees give the attorneys the incentive to settle the case because they want to be paid the highest amount possible.

Questions about attorney fees and costs please call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371