When Should an Employee Seek the Help of an Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Employees should seek the help of an Illinois workers' compensation attorney as soon as they are injured. This will help them more effectively gather evidence, prepare their case, and get access to more assistance.

Keep in mind that neither the employer nor the insurance company is required to inform you of all your rights under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act. Having an attorney that will fight to ensure you receive everything you are entitled to under the law can help ensure that you are not taken advantage of. Also, the process is complicated: several copies of an application and proof of service must be given to the IWCC, then 1-3 months later the claim is put before an arbitrator where either party can request a jury trial. So, it is best to begin as soon as possible, and a competent attorney can help you through this cumbersome system. Note, one can always go directly to any employer for benefits, but only the IWCC can force an employer to pay out your claims.

What's the Deadline to File Your Workers' Comp Claim in Illinois?

Illinois has a deadline by which you must file your workers' compensation claim. Generally, it's three years from the date of the incident. This means you must act with haste after you have been injured or aggravated at work. Your attorney will need time to prepare your claim so you cannot just show up at the last minute and hope for the best. Rather, we recommend that you inform your counsel immediately after the employment injury so that he or she can maximize the time that you do have in order to strengthen your case.

What Will my Lawyer do Prior to Filing my Workers' Comp Claim?

There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into filing an Illinois workers' compensation claim, just like any lawsuit for personal injuries, medical malpractice, or wrongful death. Your lawyers need to investigate the dynamics of how the incident occurred especially in order to isolate the responsible party. Second, they need to familiarize themselves with the particulars of the local claims process. Third, they need to prepare and file your claim citing relevant precedent. Finally, they need to set up the administrative structures to engage and combat the opposing counsel. This takes a lot of time and work and by seeking their services earlier rather than later, you secure a better chance at recovery for yourself.

Call Us to Hear More!

Contacting an attorney is just one piece of the entire timeline of your Illinois workers' compensation claim. There are many other tasks to accomplish and a proper time to accomplish them. Obviously, you need to file a claim and correspond with your employer and their representatives. However, you might be unaware of other items you need to do and frankly it shouldn't be your job to keep track of all of these things. That's where our group of attorneys come in to help. We have set up, organized, and managed many Illinois workers' compensation claims. We know the processes and procedures to utilize in the performance of your claim. Our lawyers care about standing up for workers because we respect their rights. We can do all of this for no charge until you are satisfied with the result.

Plus, Rosenfeld Workers' Compensation attorneys will provide a free case evaluation, with no obligation – simply complete the contact form or call us at 888-424-5757

For additional information see the following pages:

• Can I be Fired For Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim?
• Can I Choose my Own Doctor to Treat my Work-Related Injury Under Illinois' Workers' Compensation Law?
• How Much Will It Cost me to Use an Illinois Workers' Compensation Lawyer to Handle my Claim?
• I Have an Open Workers' Compensation Claim That I Have Received a Settlement Offer For. What Happens If I Settle That Claim?
• I Was Hurt Over a Year Ago at Work But Never Filed a Claim. Is It Too Late to Receive Illinois Workers' Compensation Benefits?
• What If I Was at Fault For my Work-Related Injury. Can I Still Get Workers' Compensation Benefits?
• What Kind of Benefits Can I Get When I File an Illinois Workers' Compensation Claim?
• What or Who is Covered Under The Workers' Compensation Laws of Illinois?
• What Should I do to Apply For Workers' Compensation Benefits If I Have Been Injured While Working at a Job or Factory In Illinois?
• Who is Responsible For Paying For Illinois Workers' Compensation Benefits?