If you have been injured on the job, consulting a workers' compensation attorney in Illinois is a smart move in ensuring your legal rights are protected. As an injured worker, you have certain rights by law provided under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act. To protect your rights and ensure your accident is covered under this law, you must notify your employer of the accident either in writing or orally within 45 days of the date of accident. Your employer may have established, documented injury notification procedures and should they exist, it is important that you follow them.

If you are an Illinois worker and suffer an injury during the course of your employment, you are entitled to have all of your medical bills for treatment related to the injury completely paid for by your employer. Should you have to miss work due to injury, your employer must pay you 66 2/3 percent of your average weekly wage over the previous 52 weeks. This pay called, Temporary Total Disability (TTD), is tax free and is mandated by law.

As an injured worker, you have the option of seeing whichever physician you choose, including specialists, such as surgeons, physical therapists and chiropractors. An experienced workers' compensation attorney in Illinois can explain your rights to you and make sure you are paid while you are missing work, if applicable.

A workers' compensation attorney in Illinois will file an Application for Adjustment of Claim on your behalf with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. This document will include your name, address, date of birth, employer's name and address, date and time of your accident, a brief description of how it happened, your average weekly wage, and a brief description of your injury.

By filing an Application for Adjustment of Claim, the state of Illinois gains legal authority to make sure your workers' compensation benefits are provided to you by your employer according to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.

Should your employer dispute your accident, consulting with a workers' compensation attorney in Illinois may be your only option to ensure you are justly compensated. Employers do have the right to contest accidents. They can also contest whether your current illness or injury is casually connected to the accident you reported. In cases of any employer disputes, a workers' compensation attorney in Illinois is important in protecting your rights and interests.

Once you are fully recovered from a work injury and have returned to work, you are entitled to a lump-sum settlement due to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) you suffered as a result of your accident. The amount of your settlement depends on the part of your body that was injured, the severity of the injury and your average weekly wage

Typically the more essential the body part and severe the injury, the higher the settlement. For example, a torn meniscus in your right knee that requires surgery to repair will see a greater settlement amount than a back sprain or a cut on your thumb. However, many employers do not offer a final settlement if you do not consult a workers' compensation attorney in Illinois and file an Application for Adjustment of Claim.