Many Waukegan workers are at least somewhat aware that if they get injured on the job, their employer’s workers’ compensation coverage will likely provide wage loss benefits and coverage of medical treatment. However, unless a person has been through the workers’ comp process before, they may not know how to apply for workers’ compensation in Waukegan, or how an attorney can help them through all parts of the claims process. If you are in this difficult position, an experienced workers’ comp lawyer from Schlack & Bassmaji can help you understand your legal options.
Workers’ compensation is a type of no-fault insurance that most employers in Waukegan are required to provide on behalf of their employees. This insurance is intended to provide benefits such as medical payments, wage replacement during temporary disability, permanent disability benefits, and more. There is a process to obtain these benefits, however, that includes the following steps.
If a worker suffers a workplace injury or a work-related illness, it is important for them to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The most important reason to do so, of course, is for their own well-being and the best chance of physical recovery. An additional reason is so the injury can be evaluated and documented by a medical professional for workers’ compensation coverage.
In Waukegan, injured workers are allowed to choose their own healthcare providers. Schlack & Bassmaji has developed relationships with medical professionals in the region who are willing to wait for payment for their services until a claimant’s case is resolved.
In most cases, workers who incur a workplace injury or illness are required to notify their employer of the injury within 45 days. However, the longer the worker waits to make this notification, the longer it will be for their claim to be covered. After this notification has been made, the worker has up to three years to file a claim for medical and wage loss benefits. We help workers understand the legal process of obtaining benefits, and could draft employer notifications and submit the claim with the state’s workers’ compensation commission.
When a Waukegan employer is notified of a workers’ compensation claim, they have the responsibility to notify the insurance provider who services their policy so that the claims process can begin. They must also report the workplace accident or related illness to the state workers’ compensation commission within 30 days. The employer has 14 days to accept or deny an injury claim that resulted in more than three lost days of work.
The legal team at Schlack & Bassmaji understands how worrisome it can be to suffer a workplace illness or injury that results in the need for medical treatment. While the state’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to ensure that injured Waukegan workers obtain the benefits they need, the claims process can be challenging. An experienced personal injury lawyer could answer the questions you have about filing a workers’ compensation claim and the services we can offer. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
