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There are many types of industries, employers, and jobs in Chicago. However, one thing that nearly all employers in the city have in common is the requirement that they purchase workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation is a form of no-fault insurance coverage that provides medical and wage loss benefits for employees who are injured on the job or acquire an illness as a direct result of their job.
While this is a necessary program, workers’ compensation insurance providers are like most insurance providers in that they seek to pay as little as possible on a claim. A trustworthy workers’ compensation attorney could assist injured workers in Chicago as they seek the benefits they need after a workplace injury or illness.
One of the main benefits of workers’ compensation in Chicago is payment of medical expenses related to an injury or illness acquired at work. All reasonable medical expenses are covered through the policy, including hospitalization, surgical procedures, prescription medication, and rehabilitation.
While some states require employees to obtain treatment from a physician chosen by the employer or the insurance company who services the employer’s workers’ comp policy, workers in Illinois are permitted to choose two physicians that they would like to seek treatment from. If their chosen physician refers them to another medical provider during the course of treatment, the costs associated with treatment from the new provider is also covered.
Some employers participate in a Preferred Provider Program (PPP) that designates specific providers that they wish for their employees to seek medical treatment from. If an employer is in this program, workers still have the right to choose their own physician or can choose from the list of providers participating in the program.
Another primary benefit of Chicago workers’ compensation is replacement of wages while the employee is too injured to work. Workers generally get around two-thirds of their average weekly wage for the duration of the time they are unable to work as a result of their injury or illness. Workers who can perform some work duties while still being treated will generally receive a wage replacement equal to around two-thirds of the difference between what they are able to earn with reduced hours or light-duty assignments and their weekly average before the injury. In cases involving a permanent injury, it is possible for injured workers to obtain wage replacement benefits until they reach the age of 67.
An attorney commonly helps claimants determine how much they should be receiving for wage replacement in accordance with the state’s workers’ compensation laws.
An additional workers’ compensation benefit in Chicago that is available for some injured workers is vocational rehabilitation. This benefit provides the worker with the training they need to perform a different job if their workplace injury prohibits them from performing the tasks of the position they held when the injury occurred.
Workers’ compensation also provides a death benefit for a worker’s family members when a fatal workplace accident occurs. This benefit is two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage for 25 years, or up to $500,000.
Workers’ compensation provides injured employees with the wage replacement and medical benefits they need as they recover from an accident that occurred in the workplace. Unfortunately, the insurance providers who service workers’ comp policies often seek to minimize the amount they must pay for a worker’s care, and navigating the claims process can be complex.
Let the personal injury team at McCready Law help you understand your legal options and the types of workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to in Chicago. Call us for a free consultation.