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Most people live their lives day to day without considering how much could change in an instant. However, an accident or sickness at work could forever alter your life and health with little to no notice.
If you find yourself in this situation, a workers’ compensation attorney familiar with Chicago permanent disability workers’ compensation claims could help. After suffering a workplace injury or work-related illness, filing a disability claim could allow you to receive benefits in place of your income moving forward.
Both work-related injuries, such as from an accident or repeated motion, and illnesses, such as cancer and other serious diseases, can cause future disability. The term “disability” applies to many kinds of injuries and conditions, depending on the severity and duration of a worker’s inability to do their job.
Disability can be partial or total. For example, a muscle strain might reduce a worker’s ability to do repetitive feats of strength but not completely eclipse their ability to do other tasks. In contrast, a serious back injury could require immobilization during recovery, eliminating one’s ability to work entirely.
These kinds of partial and total disability can also vary in duration. A strain can resolve in weeks or months, allowing a worker to return to their prior workload once recovered, but damage done to the nervous system could be permanent, changing and reducing a worker’s abilities for the rest of their life.
A worker may have to rely on disability benefits should their disability become permanent. Workers’ compensation claims can provide this compensation, and a lawyer well-versed in Chicago permanent disability claims could provide crucial assistance in filing correctly.
When an injury occurs or is discovered, a worker should report it to their employer and seek medical treatment. Once alerted, an employer’s insurer can begin issuing benefits. A worker will also need to file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) documenting their permanent disability. The IWCC will calculate the amount of benefits based on the worker’s information and evidence of the permanence of their disability.
An attorney could help with each part of this process, from notifying an employer in time to filing with the IWCC. A worker could also use a lawyer’s knowledge and skill to appeal a reduction or denial of benefits in front of an IWCC review panel and, if necessary, even the state court.
An injured worker may need to argue the permanency of their injury in order to continue receiving benefits. An attorney could examine and articulate what makes a disability permanent based on the particular medical evidence, then challenge an unsatisfactory calculation by the IWCC. Should a worker need to file a permanent disability claim, a Chicago attorney could advocate on their behalf.
Every workplace injury claim is unique. Determining whether a worker’s disability will be permanent and the benefits they should receive as a result is just the first action with which an attorney could help.
A Chicago lawyer at McCready Law could help with your permanent disability workers’ compensation claims by evaluating your situation, helping you notify your employer and document your injury, and guiding you through the paperwork and filings necessary to maintain the benefits you deserve. Schedule a consultation to learn more about your potential disability claim.