Workers Compensation Commission

There will be 3 arbitrators at each site.

They will be assigned to cases randomly.

Currently there is one arbitrator at each site.

Your case will come up once every 3 months.

Now it comes up once every 2 months.

This means it will take longer to get to your case.

Before you would know the arbitrator’s tendencies and what to expect from decisions.

Now you will have to keep track of three arbitrators.

The Governor’s press statement announcing the appointment of the new arbitrators emphasized improving the business climate in Illinois.

This may have some chilling effect on injured workers’ cases.

This date is important because the change in the law requires Arbitrators to take into account AMA guidelines.

Workers’ Compensation insurance companies may send out their claims to doctors to have them give a percentage loss of use according to the AMA guidelines.

For instance, if you have a back injury the doctor will have to decide if your permanent partial disability is worth 5 percent of a person or 15 percent of a person.

This will likely mean you will have to be sent to a doctor to examine you and have a report written.

Of course this will take more time.

The insurance company also has to factor in your age, restrictions, job, and the information contained in the medical records.

Let me know what your experience is with the AMA guidelines and your settlement offers.