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Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of liability insurance with which the employer assumes liability for their employees’ work-related injuries. It covers the expenses incurred for a worker to heal and return to work, including doctor’s visits, medications, physical therapy, missed wages and more.
A workplace injury that keeps you from returning to work can make it difficult to earn a living wage and keep food on the table. If you were seriously injured at work, you may be considering applying for government benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as Food Stamps.
If you’ve been injured at work, this is likely one of your first questions. While it’s a common one, the answer depends on many factors unique to your case. Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to provide financial support for injured employees, but determining the value of a case can be complex. Let’s break down the key factors that influence your settlement and help you better understand what to expect.
If you’re recovering from a workplace injury and considering taking on a new job, you may be wondering how this will impact your workers’ compensation benefits. The good news is that it’s possible to work a new job and still receive benefits, but there are important considerations to keep in mind. Your eligibility depends on the type of benefits you’re receiving, the nature of your new job and whether your new employment aligns with your doctor’s restrictions. Let’s explore what you need to know.
When a workplace injury leaves an employee unable to return to their job, or any job, they may be eligible for a permanent and total disability (PTD) award under workers' compensation. This type of compensation is crucial for those whose injuries are so severe that returning to gainful employment is impossible. Understanding the process and how these awards are determined can help injured workers navigate their rights more effectively.
Dealing with a workplace injury is tough enough, but receiving a denial for your workers' compensation treatment can be overwhelming. Workers’ compensation is meant to provide the necessary medical care to help you recover and get back on your feet. When treatment is denied, it might feel like the system is working against you. Fortunately, a denial isn't the end of the road. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the steps you can take if your workers' compensation treatment has been denied.
After a workplace injury, one of the first concerns many people have is how long it will take to receive their workers’ compensation benefits. The process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with the stress of recovery and financial uncertainty. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, understanding the steps involved and the potential timeline can help you set realistic expectations.
When you’ve been injured at work, your next steps can feel overwhelming. One of the first and most important things you can do is schedule a free consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney. This meeting is crucial in determining the best way to move forward with your claim, and the more prepared you are, the better. At Black & Jones Attorneys at Law in Rockford, IL, we aim to make your consultation as smooth and productive as possible. To help, here are three essential documents you should bring to your consultation to set your case off on the right track.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Almost every employer in the State of Illinois is required to have workers’ compensation insurance coverage if they have even a single employee. Unfortunately, some employers refuse to adhere to this law in attempt to save themselves money. But they do so at the risk of not only their finances but, more importantly, their employees. Black & Jones was contacted by a client who worked at a restaurant. While working, he sustained severe burns to his foot while working in the kitchen. The injuries were so severe that he was taken by ambulance to the emergency room and underwent months of treatment that ultimately left significant scarring. Not only did he incur significant medical bills and visible scarring on his foot, but he also missed time from work when he was unable to be on his feet or wear shoes. When he tried to talk to his employer about covering the cost of the medical bills, he was ignored. So he sought the assistance of our attorneys at Black & Jones!
Dealing with a workers' compensation claim can be a challenging and stressful experience. With so much at stake, it's crucial to be mindful of your actions and choices during this time. Even seemingly small missteps can have significant consequences for your case. At Black & Jones Attorneys at Law, we want to ensure you have the best chance of securing the benefits you're entitled to. In this blog, we'll highlight three key things to avoid during an active workers' compensation claim to help you navigate this process successfully.
Experiencing an injury at work can be a stressful and overwhelming situation. Not only are you dealing with physical pain and potential loss of income, but you also have to navigate the complex process of filing a workers' compensation claim. At Black & Jones Attorneys at Law, we understand the challenges you face and are here to guide you through the steps to secure the benefits you deserve. In this blog, we will outline the essential steps to file a workers' compensation claim in Illinois and provide helpful tips to ensure a smooth process.
Experiencing an injury at work is overwhelming and having to navigate the workers’ compensation process alone is often daunting. At Black & Jones, we understand the challenges you face and are here to guide you through every step of the way. Let’s take a look at each individual step of the process that will help you secure the benefits you deserve.
A client asked Black & Jones to represent him when his employer’s insurance company denied that his need for back surgery was related to a slip-and-fall at work. His doctor had ordered surgery, but would not schedule it due to lack of approval from insurance. He was unable to work due to his back and was not receiving any pay. Bills were accumulating and he was not getting any answers from his employer.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
When this client first came to Black & Jones, they had been battling the insurance company for over 9 years. The worker was originally injured when exposed to fumes and gases at work which resulted in emergency room treatment for breathing problems. The condition worsened leading to the need for a double lung transplant. Despite the treatment, the worker succumbed to the condition and passed away leaving a grieving spouse and family behind. The insurance company had denied the case, disputing that there was any exposure at work and disputing that the lung condition was related to any work injury.
Suffering a workplace injury is not just physically painful; it can also lead to a maze of legal and financial hurdles when seeking workers’ compensation benefits. In this guide, we’ll combine experienced advice with practical tips to help you navigate the workers’ compensation process effectively.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Selecting the right attorney for your workers' compensation case is crucial, but does your attorney have to be in the same state where your injury occurred? Let's explore this question and understand the importance of having a local attorney by your side.
When it comes to dealing with workers’ compensation claims, you may hear about something called an Independent Medical Examination (IME), or as it’s known under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, a “Section 12 exam.” It’s actually a tool frequently used by insurance companies to shape the trajectory of your claim. But should you comply with it?
At Black & Jones, we know that when it comes to navigating the complexities of workers’ compensation claims, having the right legal representation can sometimes make or break your case. So, where in the world do you find the best one for you, and what should you be looking for? We have a few tips you should consider.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Workplace accidents can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. And if that’s not challenging enough, you must navigate the complex landscape that is the workers’ compensation system. This is where the expertise of a local Rockford workers’ compensation attorney becomes invaluable to ensure you have the support you need to get the benefits you deserve.
As if getting hurt on the job isn’t stressful enough, now it’s time to navigate the workers’ compensation system—which, unfortunately, is filled with red tape, tons of paperwork, and sometimes, even an employer who doesn’t want you to file a workers’ compensation claim. Check out the top workers’ compensation FAQs people call and ask us about.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation, Videos
Tracy and the team listened to Blake's story, began the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim and ended up winning him the compensation he needed to get his life started again.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation, Videos
Watch and listen to how Tracy Jones and her team at Black & Jones listened to her story and helped her start the workers’ compensation process.
Are you in need of a workers' compensation attorney to help you navigate the complex legal terrain of workplace injuries? Here are 5 tips from an experienced Rockford law firm to guide you through the process of selecting the ideal attorney who will champion your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your case!
To determine if an individual is an employee, as opposed to an independent contractor, and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation in Illinois, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission assesses several key factors. These factors revolve around the level of control an employer exerts over the contractor’s work.
Recently the Appellate Court upheld a Commission decision, which found that a secretary at a school who slipped and fell on snow in the school parking lot did sustain a compensable work-related injury and the employer was responsible for benefits.
If you’ve been hurt on the job, understanding the Illinois workers' compensation process can help you start the process of filing a claim. Knowing your rights can also empower you to receive fair compensation, medical benefits, rehabilitation services and more.
At Black & Jones, we offer a free initial consultation, which is an important first meeting between you and an attorney from our team that you can hire to represent you in your worker’s compensation case. To make sure this meeting is as productive as possible, and avoid delays or rescheduling, come to your consultation prepared with the information the attorney needs to properly evaluate your case.
If you are injured at work, no matter how minor of an injury, you may be entitled to recovery. In fact, you are likely entitled to a settlement for the injury. If you have been injured at work, call Black & Jones Attorneys at Law today at (815) 967-9000 for a free consultation.
If you get hurt at work, you are likely entitled to a settlement. When you get hurt at work, you are entitled to three principal benefits. While there may be other benefits you are entitled to, the following are the most common benefits paid.
Workers' compensation provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job or have a work-related illness. But this compensation isn’t automatically given to injured workers. A claim must be properly filed and meet qualifications. And unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to make simple, yet costly, mistakes during the claims process.
Suffering a work-related injury or illness can be a challenging experience both physically and emotionally. Workers' compensation serves as a vital safety net, providing financial support and access to medical care. However, many individuals find themselves wondering about the timeline and duration of a workers' compensation case.
A question the workers’ compensation attorneys at Black & Jones commonly hear is, “when will I receive my benefits?” When you’ve been injured on the job, you want to get back to normal. You want to get the care and compensation you need and move on. As top workers’ rights lawyers in Northern Illinois, this is exactly what our team strives to do.
If an injury you received at work requires surgery, you are likely entitled to compensation. Don’t hesitate to get the medical care you need to address your workplace injury. And be sure to report your injury to your employer right away and reach out to a workers’ compensation attorney to help you file a claim.
When you are injured at work, your rights are governed by state law. Each state has its own law governing the rights and responsibilities of the parties. And while some things are similar across all states, there are many things that are different. Sometimes, you have the option to file your case in more than one state. Therefore, it is important to pick the state which has a law that is most advantageous to you.
Choosing a workers’ compensation attorney can feel like picking a random card from a deck and hiring the attorney whose name appears on the card. Like medical doctors, attorneys often limit their practice to specific areas of the law and if you have not had a work-related injury before, you likely have no need to be acquainted with an attorney that handles that kind of case. And doing a search online can feel like you are bombarded by insincere advertisements. This article is meant to provide some insight and tips for choosing the right attorney for you. It is important that you find an attorney that is experienced, aggressive and that cares about you and your case. So here are three tips for choosing the right attorney.
Black & Jones Attorneys at Law recently won permanent and total disability benefits for an injured worker who developed bilateral carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome because of her repetitive work activities. She spent 10 years as a packer on an assembly line, performing highly repetitive work with her hands before developing numbness and tingling in her hands in 2011.
Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information with the world. From posting updates about our daily lives to sharing our thoughts and opinions, social media has become an integral part of our lives. However, when it comes to an active workers’ compensation case, it is crucial to limit social media presence.
If you are injured at work, chances are high that the workers’ compensation insurance company or your employer will eventually require you to attend what is called an independent medical examination (IME). This is more accurately and more fairly called a “Section 12 exam” as it is set pursuant to Section 12 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
The roads in Northern Illinois, especially during the winter construction season, can be a hazard for construction workers and drivers alike. Cold, snow, ice and other extreme winter conditions can contribute to several types of construction accidents. In addition, with temperatures dropping and snow and ice covering the ground, many people are at risk of suffering injuries while on the job. These injuries can range from minor bruises and sprains to serious injuries, such as broken bones, head trauma and even death.
But what if the accident was my fault? This is a very commonly asked question when filing a claim for workers’ compensation. The short answer is yes; it typically doesn’t matter if the incident was your fault. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not eligible for workers’ compensation—especially your employer.
Clients often ask me if they can start a new job or quit working for their current employer if they have a pending workers’ compensation case or are receiving benefits. Before you take that job, you should know how it will affect you and your case.
If you’re wondering whether you have a case, consider having a workers’ compensation lawyer on your side to help you through the complicated steps.
You don’t want to risk not getting paid the benefits you are owed. Get an attorney who can help ensure prompt and reasonable payment.
Many people who file workers’ compensation claims are hardworking, loyal and honest employees who simply got in an accident at work, by no fault of their own.
Illinois law protects employees from retaliation and discrimination for exercising their rights under the IL Workers’ Compensation Act.
In a workers’ compensation case, our legal team serves those who are hurt and not able to work—or in pain and in need of medical care—due to an injury at work.
If you were injured at work, don’t watch the medical bills stack up. We are here to help you put up a fight! At Black & Jones, we offer both compassion & toughness.
This comprehensive list will provide a step-by-step process of how to act following a workplace incident, remember that you have the power to immediately contact a trusted lawyer to help you file for compensation.
We know how difficult it can be to sustain an injury or illness from a workplace incident. And, it’s okay if you don’t know everything about Workers’ Compensation yet. In fact, many of those injured are unaware of their rights to recover benefits.
Workers’ compensation protects employees by covering medical bills, rehab costs, and any wages lost due to a workplace injury. The insurance policy also offers benefits to an employees’ family if they died due to workplace injury.
Today’s workspaces are full of safety hazards—and they’re more common than you think. A work injury can be debilitating and lessen one’s quality of life. Getting injured at work can also be an emotional tightrope, as you try to navigate unfamiliar territory.
It’s tough enough putting in so many hours with little compensation, but getting hurt at work can also be a life-altering injury. Your job, self-esteem, relationship with your family, and financial situation can be impacted after sustaining a serious injury at work.
If you or someone you know is a firefighter, EMT or paramedic and was diagnosed with MRSA or any other bloodborne pathogen, lung or respiratory disease or condition, heart or vascular disease or condition, hypertension, tuberculosis, or cancer resulting in disability, you may be entitled to benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
When you get hurt at work, you want an attorney who will be on your side. You want an attorney who will tell you what your rights and responsibilities are. And you want a lawyer who is willing to go to bat for you; someone willing to go to trial and fight.
Have you ever had an employer say that it is not a work-related injury because you were just standing up or reaching or walking? Unfortunately, when an employer or insurance company says something like that, often employees believe them. Yet it is not necessarily true, and most likely is wrong!
Under Illinois law, you must file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission within three years of the injury or accident, or within two years of the date, the insurance company or employer last pays a benefit related to the injury or accident.
Workers' Comp, COVID-19, Videos
A lot of employees are going to be exposed to coronavirus or COVID-19 while working; if that happens, you should contact an attorney. If you test positive and here's why sometimes, if you're exposed, you may have a compensable work comp claim.
There are a lot of things to watch out for in a settlement that could ultimately harm an injured worker. I will highlight a few of those problems here and what you can do about them.
In another unprecedented move today, the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission repealed the emergency rule amendment entered April 15, 2020. Recall that Governor Pritzker announced the amendment in his daily briefing, indicating that all frontline workers who test positive for COVID-19 would be entitled to a rebuttable presumption that they contracted the virus at work.
Today, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission made the unprecedented move of enacting an emergency amendment to the Rules Governing the Practice before the Commission to help protect our first responders and front line workers.
While we pray no one reading this gets sick from it, the reality is that there is a good chance you might. And we want to make sure you know your rights ahead of time if you are exposed to it at work.
Here's to the workers! Attorney Tracy Jones helps builders, drivers, welders with workers' compensation representation.
When you hurt your hand at home, you usually can call your doctor’s office and get into see someone fairly quickly. Then if the doctor recommends a diagnostic test or physical therapy, you can call the place you want it performed and set up the first available appointment.
Yes, first responders are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits when they are injured while providing help in their official capacity while off the clock.
Workers' Comp, Social Security
Unfortunately, no matter how cautious we are, accidents sometimes happen in the workplace. Losing a loved one in a traumatic accident is hard; and the last thing you should have to worry about is how to pay for the funeral and survive financially without them.
Raising two kids is challenging and rewarding, much like fighting for the rights of those injured at work. We work hard to provide the tough, responsive and caring legal representation you deserve for your workers’ comp claim.
Not every injury that happens at work or on the clock is the responsibility of your employer. But just because you are off the employer’s premise or off the clock doesn’t automatically mean that your employer is not responsible for the injury.
My response is always, “Even if everything is going perfectly right now, you will inevitably need an attorney. Don’t wait to get one until after a problem occurs because then you risk a situation where an attorney cannot fix the harm that has been done.”
The answer is NO. Just because the company’s “independent medical doctor” says that you don’t need more treatment or that your condition is not work related, does not mean that your case ends. There are several ways to get around that doctor’s opinion.
At Black and Jones, we’re tough when dealing with insurance companies, but we never overlook caring for our clients. We offer compassionate, competitive workers’ compensation representation.
Most people don’t call an attorney right away when they get hurt. Usually they wait until a problem arises and only then do they call an attorney.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Illinois case law guides the attorneys and arbitrator what may be awarded at trial by reporting what cases with similar evidence were awarded at trial. So when the client says, “that’s not a good offer,” it is unlikely the client did the legal research to form an accurate picture of what his case is worth.
An insidious onset occurs where a person’s condition worsens over time through no apparent cause. The person’s body is simply wearing out.
What to do when your former attorney won’t help get treatment approved after your case has closed.
What happens when a work related injury leaves you with permanent restrictions and your employer cannot accommodate those restrictions? You find yourself without a job, without an income, and very little hope that you will find an employer who is willing to tolerate your restrictions.
Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Now more than ever, it is important to hire an attorney for your workers’ compensation injury. Governor Rauner wants to reform the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, claiming that Illinois workers are paid too much money for their injuries, too many injuries are compensable, and the medical expenses are too high.
Have you received a letter from the worker’s compensation insurance carrier telling you that they are denying approval for medical treatment recommended by your doctor? You need to know that their “decision” is not necessarily final.
On-the-job injuries can lead to unseen the unseen hurdles of lost wages, untreated injuries and unpaid bills. Don’t go it alone! Black & Jones Attorneys At Law are prepared to assist you in your workers’ compensation case.
Unfortunately, when a business is allowing employees to work in an environment or around equipment that is blatantly unsafe, injuries not only are likely to happen, but they can be devastating.
Often an injured worker will question why he didn’t receive as much in compensation for his injury as a friend of his received for his injury. So why didn’t he receive as much, or more, compensation than his friend did?
What do you do if you are hurt at work and your boss tells you to say it happened at home so your health insurance pays with a promise that your boss will take care of everything?
Undocumented workers’ who suffer an injury arising out of and in the course of employment have the rights afforded by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, with a few exceptions.
Illinois has adopted a Preferred Provider Program for injured workers. This allows the employer and/or its insurance company to set up a preferred provider network.