A workplace injury doesn’t just hurt physically; it can shake your financial stability, your sense of security, and your trust in the people you work for. If you’ve been hurt on the job, you have legal rights under Illinois law. A workers’ compensation lawyer in Maywood can take the legal weight off your shoulders and fight to make sure you receive every benefit you’re entitled to.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has been fighting for injured workers across Illinois since 2002. With over $100 million recovered and 75 years of combined experience, our team knows how to go up against insurance companies and win.
Our Maywood personal injury lawyers handle workers’ comp cases daily, and we’re ready to go to bat for you. Free consultations. No fee unless we win.
Common Workplace Injuries We Handle
Workplace injuries come in all shapes and sizes, from sudden accidents to conditions that develop slowly over months or years of repetitive work. Under Illinois law, both types are covered by workers’ compensation, as long as they’re connected to your job duties. Some of the most common injuries our Maywood workers’ compensation lawyer handles include:
- Slips, trips, and falls: one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, whether from wet floors, uneven surfaces, or cluttered walkways
- Back and spine injuries: often caused by heavy lifting, repetitive bending, or sudden awkward movements
- Repetitive stress injuries: including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and rotator cuff damage from repeated motions over time
- Struck-by injuries: when a worker is hit by falling objects, moving equipment, or vehicles on a job site
- Machinery and equipment accidents: crush injuries, amputations, and lacerations from industrial equipment
- Burns and electrical injuries: from exposure to chemicals, open flames, or live electrical systems
- Occupational illnesses: respiratory conditions, hearing loss, and other health issues caused by long-term exposure to hazardous materials or environments
- Overexertion injuries: muscle tears, joint damage, and hernias from pushing, pulling, or carrying beyond physical limits
No matter how your injury happened, the key question under Illinois law is whether it occurred in the course of your employment. If it did, you likely have a valid claim, and a workers’ compensation attorney in Maywood can help you build it.
What Workers’ Compensation Covers in Illinois
Illinois workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you don’t need to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits. You only need to show that your injury or illness arose out of and in the course of your employment. Covered benefits typically include:
- Medical treatment: All reasonably necessary care for your work-related injury, including emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and prescriptions, at no cost to you
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): If you’re unable to work while recovering, you may receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, tax-free, until you’re cleared to return
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): If you can work in a limited capacity during recovery, you may receive partial wage replacement
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Compensation for lasting impairment to a specific body part or function
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Ongoing payments for workers who can no longer perform any type of work
- Vocational rehabilitation: If your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job, you may be entitled to retraining assistance
Knowing which benefits apply to your situation, and making sure you claim all of them, is exactly where a Maywood workers’ compensation lawyer adds real value. Missing a benefit category can mean leaving significant money on the table.
Deadlines and Rules You Need to Know
Illinois workers’ compensation law has strict timelines. Missing them can permanently bar you from receiving benefits, even if your injury is legitimate and serious.
- 45 days: You must notify your employer of your injury within 45 days of the incident. Written notice is best. Verbal notice may be accepted but is harder to prove.
- 90 days: You must seek medical treatment within 90 days of the injury to preserve your right to have it covered.
- 3 years: You have three years from the date of injury (or two years from your last compensation payment) to file a formal claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).
These deadlines are firm. If you’re unsure whether you’ve already missed one—or if your employer is dragging their feet—contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Maywood right away. In some cases, the clock can be tolled or extended, but only if you act quickly.
When to Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Some workers’ comp claims are simple and resolve without issue. Many don’t. Here are the situations where having a lawyer is essential:
- Your claim was denied, or the insurer is disputing the cause of your injury
- Your employer is pressuring you to use your personal health insurance instead of filing a workers’ comp claim
- You’re being sent to an “independent” medical examiner whose report seems designed to minimize your injury
- Your benefits have been cut off before you’ve fully recovered
- You have a pre-existing condition the insurer is using to reduce your payout
- Your injury is permanent or has affected your ability to work long-term
- You’re experiencing retaliation, such as demotions, schedule changes, or threats for filing a claim
Illinois law protects workers from retaliation, but that protection only means something if you enforce it. A Maywood workers’ compensation attorney can document retaliation, file the appropriate complaints, and make sure your employer is held accountable.
Serious and Permanent Work Injuries
If your workplace injury has left you with a permanent disability or long-term impairment, the stakes are much higher. Permanent disability cases involve detailed medical evaluations, actuarial calculations, and often, aggressive pushback from the insurer.
Under Illinois law, permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are paid at two-thirds of your average weekly wage for the rest of your life. Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are calculated based on the nature and extent of your impairment and the body part affected.
Insurers routinely challenge the severity of permanent injuries, often by arranging their own medical examinations or disputing your treating physician’s findings. A Maywood workers’ compensation attorney can help you build a strong medical record, challenge unfair IME results, and fight for a settlement that reflects the true long-term impact of your injury.
Talk to Our Maywood Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
You’ve already been through enough. Let our team handle the legal side so you can focus on getting back on your feet.
Contact Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your rights, and tell you what your claim could be worth. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.
