Workers Compensation in Illinois
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Illinois state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Illinois workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Illinois ?
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private service-providing companies reported the most nonfatal workplace incidents. In 2019, the service industry including banking, medicine, and retail represented a staggering 61.2% of work injuries in The Prairie State. The State of Illinois reports that the average cost for workers’ compensation for employers was $1.07 per $100 of payroll for the state and $1.21 for the federal government. Contact with an object or piece of equipment is the most common way for employees in the Land of Lincoln to get hurt on the job.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Illinois ?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Illinois workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
Illinois requires most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. It’s crucial to know that business partners, corporate officers, sole proprietors, and members of limited liability companies may choose to take an exemption. Benefits include reimbursement for medical costs, rehabilitation, death, and disability for physical and mental injuries that happen while on the job. The state provides ⅔ of an individual’s average weekly wage while on workers’ compensation.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Illinois are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Illinois healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
Illinois gives employees injured on the job three years to apply for workers’ compensation. Any attempts to obtain benefits after that time will likely result in a denial. After seeking medical attention, report the injury to your employer.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act states that it’s an employer’s responsibility to send reports to the Workers’ Compensation Commission after an accident that results in three or more lost workdays. You must submit an Application for Adjustment of Claim, even if you have a new case, within the statute of limitations.
Contents of the Report
The First Report of Injury will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the necessary details. They must know your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any witnesses.
Keep in mind, if you do not file for additional benefits within two years of your last payment, your claim may be denied.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Many people believe that the injury claims process is straightforward. While this may be the case in some instances, it may be more of a hassle.
For instance, your employer may question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. The company may also start to question the extent of your injury.
Don’t question how workers comp works and risk losing your claim. Hire a Illinois workers’ comp lawyer and ensure you have an advocate to fight for your rights.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Illinois
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Illinois state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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