The Law Firm of Cullen, Haskins, Nicholson & Menchetti, P.C. concentrates in representing employees who have been injured on the job. The information in this pamphlet is intended to answer some of the most common questions asked of us.
You must understand that there are many provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act and thousands of cases interpreting it. Each injury is factually different. Therefore, this guide should not be used to settle your claim or represent yourself in an action against your employer.
In 2005 and 2011 the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act was substantially overhauled. We helped write these new laws and know these changes inside and out. We can provide you with the most current information available.
If you have any questions about your rights or benefits, feel free to call us. There is no charge for the initial consultation. You should contact a lawyer who concentrates in Workers’ Compensation before you sign any document which could affect your rights.
Basic questions can be seen below. Click to download the entire Employee Rights Under the IWCA – Booklet.
El documento español es aquí
The Basic Questions
Most people employed in the State of Illinois are covered under the Workers' Compensation Act. If you were hired in Illinois or your main employment is in Illinois, you are probably covered by the Illinois Act, even if the accident happened out of the State of Illinois.
Generally, if you are injured on the job, you are entitled to the benefits under the Act. Also, if you contact a work-related disease, you may be covered under the Occupational Disease Act.
There are three main benefits under the WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT. They are:
MEDICAL EXPENSE BENEFITS
TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY BENEFITS; and
PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY BENEFITS.
All job-related injuries or diseases, with few exceptions, are covered by the Workers' Compensation Act. If an injury is caused by an accident that arose out of and in the course of the injured person's employment, then it is covered under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act. In other words, the employee must be engaged in some task in the furtherance of the employer's business and not some personal business of his own. An injured worker may even be entitled to full benefits if the accident was his own fault.
Las preguntas básicas
La ley cubre la mayoría de la gente empleada en el estado de Illinois bajo el Acto de Compensación de los Trabajadores (Workers’ Compensation Act). Si usted es empleado en Illinois o su empleo principal está en Illinois, es probable que la Ley de Illinois le protege, incluso si el lugar del accidente esta fuera del estado.
Generalmente, si se lesionó en el trabajo, la ley le da derecho a los beneficios. También, si a usted le provocó una enfermedad en su trabajo, usted puede ser cubierto bajo la Ley de las Enfermedades Laborales (the Occupational Disease Act).
Hay tres beneficios principales bajo la Ley de la Compensación de los Trabajadores. Son beneficios de:
Costos médicos;
Beneficios por incapacidades totales temporario (TTD); y
Beneficios por incapacidades parciales permanentes (PPD).
Todas las lesiones o enfermedades relacionadas con el trabajo, con pocas excepciones, son protegidas por la Ley de la Compensación de los Trabajadores. Si la lesión es causada por un accidente que ocurrió en el curso del empleo, la Ley de la Compensación de los Trabajadores de Illinois le da protección. Es decir, el empleado debe estar desempeñando tareas requeridas por el negocio de su patrón y que no son negocios personales de uno mismo. Un trabajador lesionado puede tener derechos a los beneficios completos si el accidente fue culpa de él o ella.
