State and Municipal Workers
Job Injury Lawyers Assisting People in Schaumburg and Wheaton
- Falls;
- Overexertion;
- Repetitive stress injuries;
- Traffic accidents;
- Struck by vehicle injuries; or
- Assaults.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (IWCA) is designed to provide benefits to workers who suffer job-related injuries or diseases. It is a no-fault system of benefits, which means that workers injured on the job are not required to prove negligence on the part of the employer or anyone else. Injuries caused by a worker’s own negligence are also covered. Once you have suffered an injury or illness, your employer’s insurer will review your claim to determine your eligibility for benefits, such as wage compensation based on the extent of your disability, medical coverage to treat your injury, rehabilitation costs, and any other benefits that may be relevant to your case.
Civil courts do not decide workers’ compensation claims. Instead, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), a state agency, enforces the payment of benefits. This government body acts as an impartial administrative court that answers claims. If your initial workers’ compensation claim is denied, you have options to appeal the decision several times, ideally with the assistance of an attorney. In fact, in some cases, an individual can appeal the decision all the way up to the Illinois Supreme Court. However, for Illinois state employees, the commission’s decision is final. Put simply, once the commission makes a decision, state employees cannot appeal any further.
Most people employed in the State of Illinois are covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act. Workers who are hired in Illinois or simply work in Illinois are typically covered by workers’ compensation laws even when work-related injuries took place outside the state. In addition to the IWCA, other Illinois laws such as the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA) or the Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA) may cover public safety employees. Under PEDA, a disabled public employee is entitled to a lifetime pension of between 65 percent and 75 percent of their salary once a determination has been made that they can no longer perform their duties. PSEBA provides for payment of all health insurance benefits once the disability pension has been established. These laws cover firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, probation officers, and their families.
It is important to note, however, that City of Chicago police officers and firefighters are not covered under the IWCA. This is because the IWCA excludes police officers and firefighters who work for a municipality with a population of over 500,000 people. Since Chicago has more than 2.5 million residents, Chicago public safety workers must obtain their benefits through other legislation. All police officers and firefighters who are not working for the City of Chicago are covered by the IWCA.
Contact a Knowledgeable Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Wheaton or Schaumburg
State and municipal workers often have jobs that expose them to harm. If you or a loved one is a state or municipal worker who has suffered a job-related injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. At Therman Law Offices, our workers’ compensation attorneys can advise you of your rights regarding an on-the-job injury or illness. With more than 35 years of combined experience, we understand how to handle these cases. We proudly serve people in areas such as Wheaton, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, and Roselle. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.
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Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400