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If you are injured on the job in Peoria, Illinois, you can file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. This is the agency that oversees the cases of injured workers. The Commission has locations throughout the state where claims are heard, including a location in Peoria at 202 N.E. Madison Avenue. This location handles the claims of workers injured in the Peoria area, as well as workers who are injured out of state but who are based in Peoria.

In Illinois, injured workers are entitled to a range of benefits, from medical coverage to payment for lost wages. Most work-related injuries are covered, from one-time accidents like a slip and fall to repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Illnesses that are caused by your job or made worse by your job, such as asbestosis, are usually covered, as well.

Illinois is a no-fault state, meaning that you can file a claim for workers’ compensation no matter who was at fault for your injury. It doesn’t matter if it was your fault because you weren’t paying attention, or if it was your employer’s fault for not following safety standards. In Illinois, as in most states, you generally cannot sue your employer for negligence. Filing a claim takes the place of a lawsuit.

There are three main types of benefits available to injured workers in Illinois:

• Medical. Your medical bills should be covered 100%, so long as the expenses are reasonable and related to your work injury. You should have zero out-of-pocket expenses.
• Temporary Total Disability. If you are unable to work while you recover from your injury, or if your employer can’t accommodate your work restrictions, you can receive 2/3 of your average weekly wage during this time.
• Permanent Partial Disability. You can receive compensation for a permanent injury, which is a status determined by your doctor. If you can return to work but only at a lesser paying position, you may be compensated for the difference.

When you file a claim for workers’ compensation, you are making a claim against your employer’s insurance company. Throughout the process you will be dealing with the insurance company and not directly with your employer. In some ways, it’s similar to a claim against your health insurance.

However, unlike health insurance claims, we recommend hiring an experienced attorney. It is helpful to have someone looking out for you as you make your way through the process of receiving benefits. It can be especially important to have legal representation if your benefits are denied or cut off, or if you are thinking about settling your claim. The insurance company is not on your side. In fact, it’s in their best interest to pay you as little as possible for your injury.

While hiring an attorney is important, your first priority after a work injury should be your health. In Illinois, you have the right to choose your own doctor (in some states your employer or their insurer can make this choice for you). However, you may be asked to submit to an Independent Medical Exam, or IME. This may be requested by the insurance company if there is a dispute about your diagnosis, treatment, or disability status.

Be sure to notify your employer of your injury. In Illinois you have 45 days to do this or your claim could be denied. Another important deadline is the statute of limitations for filing a claim with the Commission. You must file a claim within three years of the date of your injury, or your claim could be forever barred. If you have received any benefits, the deadline for filing a claim is two years from the date of last payment.

Workers’ compensation attorneys generally charge on a contingency basis. This means that you pay nothing unless your attorney is able to get you benefits. The fee is a percentage of what your attorney recovers. A typical fee is around 20%. If your attorney gets you $40,000, their fee would be $8,000. On the other hand, if they get nothing for you, you don’t owe them a thing.

We recommend hiring the best workers’ compensation attorney you can find. Your best bet is someone who focuses their practice on helping injured workers and someone who has a track record of success in getting those workers benefits. If you need help finding the right attorney for your situation, feel free to contact us. We know experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Peoria and throughout Illinois.

Findgreatlawyers.com helps with work injury cases throughout Illinois including Peoria and other cities in and near Peoria County. We help with all types of injuries including carpal tunnel, RSD, back injuries, knee, neck, shoulder and general repetitive trauma. See for yourself why access to our service is like having a lawyer in the family.