Navigating the Workers’ Compensation Appeals ProcessDate: Apr 24, 2023
Workers' compensation claims are critical for recovering money lost from a workplace injury. If your Illinois workers' compensation is denied, you may be interested in appealing the decision. Why Claims Are Denied Worker's compensation claims can face denial for several reasons: You did not report the injury in time: Claims often have a statute of limitations. For workers' compensation, you must report your injury to your employer within 45 days of occurrence. You can also file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) within three years of the injury if your employer denies your claim. The injury did not occur at work: Generally, your injury must occur at your workplace to qualify for workers' compensation. You can also receive compensation if you were performing work for your employer outside the workplace when the injury occurred. Your employer or its insurer believes you were at fault: Many workers' compensation…
READ MOREIllinois Workers’ Comp ClaimDate: Dec 5, 2022
If you work in Illinois and you are injured on the job, you are entitled to collect workers' compensation benefits. Illinois' workers' compensation law is a no-fault. This means that you do not need to prove that your employer failed to provide adequate protection against possible injury. You only need to prove that you were injured at your workplace or as a result of working for your employer. Illinois law mandates that all employers in the state provide workers’ compensation. They likely do this through a private insurance company as only the largest companies with hundreds of employees are financially stable enough to be self-funded. This insurance program will pay for your medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages or even help prepare you for a new job if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old one. If you suffer a permanent injury, workers' compensation will often…
READ MOREIllinois Workers’ CompensationDate: Nov 30, 2022
If you work in Illinois and have been injured on the job, you’re eligible to receive workers’ compensation. Yet you may not know anything about the workers’ compensation program. What Is Workers’ Compensation? Workers' compensation is an insurance program that every employer in the state needs to carry. It provides their employees with benefits for injuries that take place in the workplace or illnesses that arise out of the job. Employers in every state are required to carry workers' compensation insurance, although states often differ in their approach to the program. For instance, some states don't require employers to have workers' comp insurance if they employ fewer than a minimum number of employees. Many other states have no such restrictions. In Illinois, anyone who employs even one person must provide workers' compensation insurance. All employees injured on the job, who have contracted an illness while on the job or have…
READ MOREMaximum Medical ImprovementDate: Mar 4, 2022
If you’ve been injured on the job, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. These include lost wages benefits and benefits to cover medical costs and treatment. These benefits will help you if you are injured for the short-term, and they will also provide long-term benefits if your injuries are permanent. While there are many terms that you’ll need to know in regard to a workers’ compensation claim, one of the most important terms you will hear is maximum medical improvement (MMI). What Is Maximum Medical Improvement? MMI is the point at which your doctor believes that your condition has stabilized. It could mean that you are completely healed, or it could mean that your injury or your medical condition will not get any worse or any better. MMI is important because it plays a key role in establishing several factors about your workers’ compensation claim. For…
READ MOREWill I Be Followed by a Workers’ Comp Investigator?Date: Jan 23, 2022
After filing a workers’ compensation claim following a workplace injury, you should know that the insurance company representing your employer will gather evidence of the injury before making a decision about your benefits. They can do so by getting copies of medical tests and following through on others methods. Workers' Comp Private Investigator Many clients who come to us at Argionis & Associates ask “Will I be followed by a workers' comp investigator?” They're often worried about their privacy and their claim. The short answer is that an investigator may be hired to investigate your claim. Understanding the role of the investigation and knowing what to do can ease some of your concerns. When Do Workers' Comp Investigators Follow You? Any time after you file a claim, an investigator may follow you or investigate you. You're more likely to be placed under investigation if you have a large claim, have…
READ MORECan I Go on Vacation While on Workers’ Comp?Date: Jan 23, 2022
If you're injured at work, your life doesn't just stop. You may wonder about taking a vacation or trip to relax and unwind. In fact, this may seem like an ideal time for travel since you can't work and may need to unwind or treat yourself following the stress of a workplace injury. There is no law preventing you from taking a vacation when you're injured, and you can certainly take a trip when you're on workers’ compensation. However, there are some things you'll want to consider. Vacation and Workers' Compensation If you’re asking yourself “Am I allowed to take a vacation while on workers' comp?” the answer is yes, but you'll need to keep a few things in mind. 1. Medical Treatment Even if you decide to travel, you're still required to see your medical care professionals and maintain treatment for your workplace injuries. Missing an appointment to vacation…
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