The law requires employers to create safe environments for each person they employ to the best of their ability. When employers fail, regardless of the underlying cause, workers have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages.
When you hire a workers’ compensation lawyer in Lake County from the Therman Law, we hold employers accountable for what you experienced.
Our Lake County personal injury lawyer has secured over $100 million in compensation for our clients.
There are Some Incidents in Which Workers’ Compensation Does Not Apply
In some cases, workers’ compensation claims are not possible. An experienced lawyer will be able to advise on these situations, which can include the following:
- The employee was engaged in reckless behavior that led to their injuries
- The injuries happened while the employee was engaging in illegal acts
- The injury happened off the job site in a location not related to employment
- In some way, the injury is a violation of the company’s known code or policies
- The incident happened while you were on your way to or from work, but not on the clock, driving for work-related accidents
Also, note that those businesses that use independent contractors rather than employees do not always have to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
If you are classified as an independent contractor and paid as such, you may not have the right to seek compensation. If you are unsure if this applies to your situation, our workers’ compensation attorney in Lake County can offer guidance.
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation in Illinois
Under Illinois workers’ compensation laws, most employers are required to maintain insurance to protect workers from injuries and illnesses resulting from work-related exposures and incidents.
This includes workers who may have pre-existing conditions. If you are hurt while you are at work engaging in work-related tasks, you may have the right to seek financial compensation.
Some of the most common worker injuries include:
- Falls from heights
- Equipment-related accidents
- Burns from heat, chemicals, or exposures
- Slip and fall accidents
- Caught between incidents
- Overexertion injuries
- Repetitive strain accidents
- Lacerations and deep wounds
- Amputations
If you suffered one of these or another injury at work, or you became ill due to exposure to toxins, chemicals, or other high-risk materials, call our firm for immediate help.
When your injuries are not taken seriously, you have the right to seek additional legal guidance. We are here to help you. Learn more about our team today.
Benefits Awarded in Workers’ Compensation Claims in Illinois
Victims of a work-related accident have a duty to take action to inform their employer of what occurred as soon as possible and then to seek out and follow medical advice provided by their doctor.
Workers’ compensation benefits may include:
- Medical costs associated with the immediate care of the injury
- Ongoing medical costs for treatment, evaluation, and therapy
- Temporary partial or total disability benefits, in some cases
- Vocational rehabilitation or job retraining if you cannot go back to the same position
- Survivor benefits in situations where the employee dies as a result of the incident
- Permanent partial or disability benefits, depending on the situation
While these are potential benefits, they do not always apply in every situation. If you are unable to work, workers’ compensation will cover your lost wages at a rate of 66⅔% of your average income for the previous several months. However, this only applies after you miss work for 7 days.
Lost wages for prior days are not provided unless you are out of work for 21 or more days. This can become confusing, which is why hiring an attorney becomes so important.
How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Lake County Can Help You
At Therman Law, we know that filing a workers’ compensation claim could be straightforward if all information is available and you take every step required.
The problem is that there is a lot of responsibility on your shoulders and numerous ways that employers and insurance companies may try to reduce the amount of compensation paid out. There are several key ways our Lake County workers’ compensation lawyer can help you:
- Refute denied claims. If you were denied compensation for a claim for any reason, do not give up until we review your case to determine if a denial is warranted
- You have catastrophic injuries. In these cases, seeking temporary or permanent disability benefits will require advanced investigations and expert opinions to determine the fair damages.
- Your employer denied your claim. In any situation where your employer denies your claim, whether due to missing information or simply a refusal to provide compensation, seek out legal guidance.
If you are unsure of your claim value or what legal options are available to hold the employer accountable, it is time to speak with our legal team.
We bring years of experience to your battle, and we are familiar with the intricacies of how workers’ compensation claims are often misused and even abused. Let our legal team fight for you to receive fair compensation.
Explaining Third-Party Claims
Another way that our legal team can help you is by seeking legal action against third parties who caused you to suffer injuries and losses while you were at work.
If a contractor, a third-party provider, or the property owner who is not your employee causes your accident, it may be possible to pursue full compensation for your losses, including pain and suffering.
This is not available in traditional workers’ compensation claims. If you are unsure how your accident happened or why, seek out the help of our attorneys for insight before you agree to a settlement. Review our client testimonials today.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Lake County Workers’ Compensation Attorney Now
Therman Law is dedicated to helping victims of all types, including employees, receive fair compensation for the losses they sustained as a result of their employer’s mistakes.
From safety risks to intentional abuses, we strive to secure justice for you to the fullest extent allowed under the law. Schedule a free consultation with us. Talk to our workers’ compensation lawyer in Lake County for insight and guidance you can rely on.
