Getting Paid For Your Job Search

In a recent case that was decided before the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission the court held that an injured employee who could not return to her old job as a floor nurse dueto her restrictions was entitled to Maintenance benefits equal to her TTD benefits durring her self directed job search. The commission found that the injured worker applied for every job that she was qualified for at the hospital and at several other health care facilities. The respondent failed to offer her any assistance in her job search. Her treating doctors determined she was at MMI (maximum medical improvement), and the respondent terminated her TTD benefits.

Workers compensation cases can get very complicated. If you have a workers compensation case make sure you get an experienced workers compensation attorney on your side. Remember it is hard to play a game when you do not know the rules!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Settlement

What is the value of a work related carpal tunnel surgery case in Illinois? As with all workers compensation cases the answer depends on the facts of each case. The permanency award will vary if the injured hand was the dominant hand or the non dominant hand.  In 2006 through 2008 the vast majority of carpal tunnel work related injuries with surgery that went to trial had an award of 20% loss of use of a hand. The cases were higher or lower depending upon if the person had any lifting restrictions of if the injured worker had a good recovery and was able to return to her regular job. Most of the reported decisions the carpal tunnel release surgery was done arthroscopicly  rather than  with an open procedure.

In several reported cases that were tried in Illinois the injured worker also had an ulnar nerve release or a lateral epicondylectomy.  In those cases the petitioner recovered more than 20% loss of use of the hand.

Settlement : Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear with Torn Medial Meniscus

An actual case that went to trial, the arbitrator wrote a decision for 35% loss of a leg. The injured worker was a 19 year old dance instructor. the diagnosis was an anterior cruciate ligament tear coupled with a torn medial meniscus.  The surgery she underwent was a meniscectomy and debridement.  During the procedure the surgeon noted a very large tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, in addition a piece of the cartilage was broken off.  The case was decided in 2007.