Illinois workers’ compensation law prevents employees from suing their employers in the event of a workplace injury, including illnesses contracted on the job.
However, employees may be able to recover benefits if they become ill as a result of performing workplace duties.
Hospital workers, including RNs, CNAs, and LPNs, face numerous challenges in their fast-paced line of work. These challenges often lead to injury, and it’s important for nurses to know that they are entitled to workers’ compensation if that happens.
Illinois workers’ compensation laws cover the vast majority of employees in the state, including nurses. The law is a no-fault system, meaning you don’t have to prove fault in order to collect compensation for your injury.
Often, injuries result from a faulty product. A case involving this type of injury falls under product liability, in which either the manufacturer, the party who designed the product, or those in charge of marketing and labeling are held responsible for any damages that may result.
These types of claims are further divided into different categories depending on which party is responsible.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) handles workers’ comp claim denials, typically through an arbitrator. Those who appeal the arbitrator’s decision must appeal to the IWCC directly. After the IWCC, the only option is to go to court.
The process can be difficult, but it may be possible in some situations. Here, we’ll discuss the appeals process and how to best appeal an IWCC decision.
A work injury may lead to a long-term disability, in some cases permanently limiting one’s ability to work. In Illinois, disability benefits are available under workers’ compensation, though there is one other option available as well—Social Security disability insurance (SSDI). These two types of benefits work in different ways, and it’s important to know which will benefit you most in the event of a job-related injury.
The ultimate purpose of workers’ compensation is to cover your expenses in the event of a work-related injury. In Illinois, that typically means medical expenses and related costs, though it can cover lost wages, job rehabilitation, and long-term disability, especially if an injury leaves you permanently crippled.
Accidents involving tractor trailers and other large commercial vehicles can be devastating. Recovering enough to pay for your injuries can be a challenge in these cases, partly due to how these types of lawsuits work.
While it may be simple enough to prove that the truck driver was indeed at fault for your injuries, actually recovering damages may prove a challenge.
Slipping and falling on a floor or walkway may not always seem immediately serious, but the truth is slip, trip, and fall accidents can have severe results. According to the CDC, roughly between 20% and 30% of slip and fall accidents result in moderate to severe injuries, including fractures and head trauma.
The following facts and statistics show just how serious these types of injuries can get:
If you have been injured at work, you may decide to settle your claim instead of receiving ongoing workers’ compensation benefits. Settling can impact how much compensation you’d receive, and there are various factors that go into calculating the amount.
One of the factors involved in calculating a workers’ compensation settlement is the total amount of benefits you’d be eligible to receive. In Illinois, workers’ comp is designed to cover the following:
The vast majority of workers’ compensation claims are resolved through settlements. A workers’ comp settlement is an agreement between you and the other party (in this case your employer’s insurance company) that you’ll stop pursuing your claim in return for a specific sum of money.
If you’re worried that these settlements are public record, the answer is a bit complex. In the state of Illinois, they are technically public information, but they aren’t easily accessible.
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