If you have been treating for a work injury for months, there may come a day when your doctor writes two words in your chart that change the direction of your entire case: maximum medical improvement. It is often abbreviated MMI, and it is one of the most important...
One of the most common questions injured workers ask is whether their employer can fire them after they report a work injury or file a workers’ compensation claim. The fear is understandable — no one wants to lose their job on top of dealing with a serious...
You were injured at work. Your treating physician recommends surgery, physical therapy, or a specific medication to help you recover. Then you receive a letter from the insurance company stating that the recommended treatment has been “non-certified” through something...
If you were hurt at work in Illinois and then released to return to work with restrictions, you may be wondering whether your temporary total disability benefits can be stopped right away. Many injured workers are told that a light duty release automatically ends TTD...
If you have been injured at work, one of the first things you will want to know is how much you will receive in workers’ compensation benefits. The answer depends largely on a single number: your average weekly wage, or AWW. Your AWW determines the amount of your...
You were injured at work. Your doctor took you off duty. Days pass, then weeks, and your temporary total disability check has not arrived — or it was stopped without any explanation. Your request for medical treatment is sitting without authorization. You are...
After a workplace accident, many employers require injured workers to submit to a drug test. If that test comes back positive, you may fear that your workers' compensation claim is automatically over. This is one of the most common concerns injured workers raise when...
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act Covers Construction Workers If you are injured while performing work on a construction site in Illinois, you are generally entitled to workers' compensation benefits under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/1 et...
If you have been injured at work and are receiving workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois, there is a good chance the insurance company will eventually ask you to attend a medical examination with a doctor of its choosing. This examination is known as a Section 12...
After a workplace injury, you might assume that the connection between your accident and your medical condition is obvious. You fell off a ladder and broke your wrist. You lifted a heavy load and felt a sharp pain in your back. To you, the cause and effect could not...