Workers’ compensation is an important right afforded to workers who have been injured on the job. It gives them the money they need to pay for their medical bills and lost wages following their accident so that they have time to recover. However, all too often, the companies that control workers’ compensation withhold benefits from the people who need them most.
At the Danville workers’ compensation firm of Spiros Law, P.C., we believe this practice is wrong. We believe that injured workers deserve to get the benefits they and their families need, and we are willing to fight for this belief. If you or someone in your family has been denied the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve following their workplace accident, we would like to help. Contact us today by calling (217) 443-4343 to find out more about what we can do for you.
Learn More: What Happens if My Worker’s Compensation Claim is Denied?
Conveniently located in Central Illinois, the Dannville workers’ compensation attorneys of Spiros Law, P.C. understand what you are going through following your injury, and we know how important it is for you to receive the money you deserve.
If you need assistance filing your claim or if you were wrongly denied the workers’ compensation benefits you need, we would like to help. Contact us today for a free consultation today.
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Workers’ Comp Practice Areas
Our Danville workers’ compensation attorneys have a wide range of experience helping clients with their cases. We may be able to help you with cases involving:
- Workers’ Compensation
- Permanent Disability
- Temporary Disability
- Workplace Injuries
Many injured workers wrongly believe that they have to prove that their employer was negligent in some way in order to collect money for the accident. This is patently untrue. A worker’s compensation claim is not a personal injury lawsuit against your employer, it is simply a claim for compensation from the employer’s insurance policy. These policies exist to help workers with the expenses associated with an on-the-job accident, and an experienced lawyer can help you get the full amount of compensation that you are owed.
The Statistics
Many workers think that disability injuries will never happen to them. Unfortunately, this may not be the case. According to statistics, one in five workers will experience a serious injury or illness during their lives that will cause them to miss a year or more of work.
Every year, around 4 million workers are injured or become ill because of conditions at work. Workers’ compensation exists both to benefit workers and to protect employers from lawsuits. If you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits, your employer may be taking advantage of you. The Danville workers’ compensation attorneys of Spiros Law, P.C. want to help you fight back.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Our experienced Danvilleworkers’ compensation lawyers have handled a wide range of cases over the years. We can help you with all of your workers’ compensation needs, including:
- Workers’ Compensation
- Permanent Disability
- Temporary Disability
- Workplace Injuries
If you or someone you love has been injured or worse because of a workplace injury, we would like to help. Our Danville workers’ compensation attorneys have the dedication it takes to fight for your rights following a workplace accident.
Common Causes of Workplace Accidents
Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities can happen in any job industry. A variety of scenarios can result in an accident that requires medical care. In 2019, there were 158 fatal work-related injuries in Illinois. Transportation incidents accounted for 40% of all work-related deaths, followed by violence, falls, slips, trips, and contact with equipment and objects.
The most common causes of workplace accidents include:
- Slip/trip and fall
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Overexertion
- Defective tools and equipment
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Fall from heights
- Explosions and fires
- Being struck by an object or equipment
- Repetitive motion
- Falling objects
- Hazards in working areas and walkways
- Exposed electrical wires
- Malfunctioning machinery
Employers must provide their workers with a safe environment free from hazards that could cause injuries. If you were hurt while performing your job duties, you shouldn’t be responsible for the medical bills and other costs you incur. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company should provide the benefits you need to pay for your treatment and supplement any lost income from your time off.
Common Injuries Suffered in Workplace Accidents
In 2019, there were 127,700 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Illinois. You can suffer injuries no matter what type of job you have. Whether you’re in construction or an office environment, hazards exist that can lead to accidents.
The most common occupational injuries and illnesses are:
- Tendonitis
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Mesothelioma
- Respiratory issues
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Psychological damage
- Pulled or strained muscle
- Burns
- Torn tendons and ligaments
- Electrical shock
- Cuts and bruises
- Cancer
- Pneumoconiosis
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Paralysis
If you were involved in an accident at work, you should contact Spiros Law, P.C. immediately for legal assistance. Our Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers might be able to represent you in your case and pursue the benefits you need to heal your injuries and pay for your daily living expenses while you can’t earn an income.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Can Pursue in Danville, Illinois
When you apply for workers’ compensation benefits, you could recover two different types: medical benefits and disability benefits.
Medical Benefits
Medical benefits pay for all reasonable and necessary treatment of your work-related injury or illness. This can include:
- Emergency care
- Surgery
- Chiropractic treatment
- Physical therapy
- Doctor visits
- Medical devices
- Prescription medications
- Chronic pain treatment
You should not receive any medical bills while you’re trying to recover. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should pay your providers directly for all treatment you receive.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
You can collect TTD benefits if your doctor indicates that you can’t return to work. Payments are two-thirds of your average weekly wages before suffering a disabling injury or illness. You can continue to collect benefits until you return to your job at total physical and mental capacity.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
If you’re still working at a limited capacity and earning less money than you did before the accident, you can collect TPD benefits. Payments are two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wage before the accident and the net pay you’re making performing modified work duties.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
You’re eligible for PPD benefits if you have:
- Partial or complete loss of use of part of the body;
- Partial or complete loss of a body part; or
- Partial loss of use of the body as a whole.
“Loss of use” refers to the inability to perform the tasks you could complete before suffering an injury.
Four types of benefits are available:
- Wage differential – If you get a different job and earn less than your pre-injury wages, you can collect two-thirds of the difference between your wages at your previous job and new wages.
- Scheduled injuries – Available benefits depend on the specific body part affected by the injury. Specific body parts are assigned a total number of weeks of value. Your compensation may be based, in part, on the impairment rating assigned by your doctor. An impairment rating is a percentage indicating how much an injury impacts your body as a whole. Payments are calculated at 60% of the average weekly wage before the accident multiplied by the percentage of loss x the number of weeks assigned to the corresponding body part on the Schedule of Body Parts.
- Non-scheduled injuries – If the type of injury you suffered isn’t listed on the Schedule of Body Parts but limits your ability to perform your job, you could collect a percentage of the 500 weeks assigned to the “person as a whole,” depending, in part, on the impairment rating your doctor provides.
- Disfigurement – If you suffer permanent and serious disfigurement to your face, neck, head, hand, chest, armpits, arm, or leg below the knee, you can collect benefits for up to 162 weeks.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
An injury eligible for PTD benefits is:
- Complete and permanent loss of use of both feet, both hands, both legs, both arms, both eyes, or a combination of two of these body parts; or
- A complete disability that prevents the employee from performing any job.
Payments are two-thirds of the average weekly wage before the injury occurred for a time period determined by the Arbitrator or in negotiation with the insurance company.
Death Benefits
Burial benefits are available to the person paying for their loved one’s burial expenses if the loved one died as a result of work-related injuries. If the death happened before February 1, 2006, you could collect a $4,200 payment. For a work-related death after February 1, 2006, the benefit payment would be $8,000.
Survivor benefits are for a primary beneficiary, such as a spouse or child under 18 years old. Payments are two-thirds of the deceased’s gross average weekly wages before the fatal injury for a period of time set by the Arbitrator or negotiated with the insurance company.
Do I have to sue my employer for Workers’ Compensation benefits?
Workers’ Compensation FAQs
What type of accidents fall under workers’ compensation?
Most employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance to accommodate employees who are injured on the job. This insurance covers only individuals who are employees of the company and does not include any independent contractors hired by the company.
Workers’ comp covers any injuries that occur because of a job-related accident. This definition could mean that an accident happened in the workplace or in a job-related situation outside of the workplace. Workers’ comp can cover preexisting conditions that were worsened because of the job, or even repetitive motion injuries that occur because of prolonged wear during the job.
Most obviously, workers’ comp covers injuries that occur because of accidents during the job, such as a slip and fall, electric shock, or machinery malfunction accidents. If you were injured in a work-related accident, and are questioning whether workers’ comp will cover your injuries, contact the attorneys at Spiros Law, P.C.
How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim?
The time limit for filing workers’ compensation claims vary from state to state. Illinois law outlines the conditions and benefits of workers’ compensation claims within the state. In order to be compensated for your work-related injuries through workers’ comp, you generally must file the claim within three years of the date the injury occurred, or within two years of the last workers’ comp payment, whichever is later.
It is also important to note that there is a separate deadline for notifying your employer of your injury. In order to receive workers’ comp, you have to notify your employer either orally or in writing within 45 days of the injury. If you have been injured in a work-related injury, you want to file a claim as soon as possible. Contact an attorney at Spiros Law, P.C. to start the filing process.
What should I do if I was injured on the job?
If you were injured in a work-related injury and are looking to seek workers’ compensation, you should follow a few steps. First, you should seek medical attention for your injuries. Workers’ comp covers the medical assistance employees need to recover from their workplace injury. In Illinois, the injured employee is allowed to choose two physicians, surgeons, or hospitals for their medical assistance.
Second, notify your employer of your injury within 45 days of the accident or onset of injury. Third, contact a workers’ compensation attorney to begin the workers’ compensation claim process. In Illinois, you must file the claim within three years of the injury, or within two years of the last workers’ comp payment, whichever is later. The workers’ comp attorneys at Spiros Law, P.C. are very familiar with the filing process. We will guide you through every step, making sure your rights are protected.
Why Choose Spiros?
At Spiros Law Firm, our experienced personal injury attorneys have secured substantial settlements for clients harmed by others’ negligence.
- $9,842,900: The second-largest verdict in the history of Vermilion County for an innocent baby who suffered immense harm and required an emergency craniotomy.
- $1,450,000: The largest verdict in Ford County for a driver injured when a car ran a stop sign.
- $1,400,000: The largest settlement for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) in Champaign County, Illinois, after a 42-year-old woman was given the wrong medication at a hospital, leading to vein necrosis, chronic pain, and nerve damage.
These examples are only a glimpse into what we can do for our clients. We have vast experience dealing with a wide range of personal injury cases. We can help with any of the following cases:
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Auto Wrecks
- Burn Injuries
- Paralysis Injuries
- Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- Sexual Assault
- Mass Tort
- Federal Tort Claims
- View All Practice Areas
At Spiros Law Firm, P.C., our team dedicates itself to clear, honest communication with our current and future clients. From the initial consultation, we are upfront about potential outcomes and understand that our clients have already suffered great pain and loss. We’re committed to being compassionate and transparent with every person who needs our help or advice.
Contact Us
You and your family rely on workers’ compensation benefits to support you during your painful recovery process. It can be frightening when you are not receiving the money you need. We understand what you are going through, and we want to help. Spiros Law, P.C. will be your advocate and seek the maximum available benefits possible, so you’re not forced to pay for any expenses out-of-pocket. You deserve coverage for your lost wages and medical care so you can heal and get on the road to recovery.
Contact the Illinois workers’ compensation attorneys of Spiros Law, P.C. for the assistance you deserve. We can meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your options for filing a claim, appealing a denied claim, or pursuing a lawsuit against an employer that doesn’t provide workers’ compensation coverage.
