In a fairly recent case the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission awarded an injured worker future medical benefits for life. This is usually not news worthy except in this case the injured worker as a result of his work injury had to undergo a splenectomy and as a result he had a decreased immune system that made him susceptible to a serious infection.
If he obtained a fever for what ever reason, even if it was wholly unrelated to his work injury such as a cold or the flu, and his fever climbed to over 100.5 degrees he would have to immediately take antibiotics and go to the nearest emergency room. He would then be admitted for at least two days or until the infection could be broughtunder control. The Commission held the respondent employer would be liable for all that medical expense associated with the hospital stay.
We represent Illinois workers compensation clients from Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, McHenry, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Lakewood, Huntley, Harvard, Hebron, Carpentersville, Cary, Fox River Grove, Elgin, Richmond, Marengo, Spring Grove, Wonder Lake, Barrington, Lake County and Kane County.
When you’re injured at work you are entitled to three basic worker’s compensation benefits.
A. Medical Benefits. An injured employee is entitled to receive all the necessary first aid, medical, surgical and hospital services reasonably required to cure his condition of ill being resulting from his work injury.
B. Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD). The injured worker is entitled to temporary total disability benefits. This means the injured worker is entitled to receive two-thirds of his or her average weekly wage during the time he or she is unable to return to work as a result of the work-related injury. The temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are payable after the first three days the injured worker is off due to a work-related injury. If the injured worker is off work for more than 14 days for that same injury, the Worker’s Compensation Act requires the worker’s compensation insurance carrier to pay the injured worker the first three days he or she was off.
C. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (PPD). At the conclusion of the case the injured worker is entitled to a permanent partial disability (PPD) benefit. This PPD benefit is calculated as a percentage of disability for each body part that was injured in the work-related injury times 60% of the average weekly wage up to the current statutory maximum rate. The current maximum PPD rate is $636.15.
After the work injury, the injured worker must notify his or her employer of the work accident promptly. The law requires notification within 45 days of the injury. The notice must be given to a person who is part of the management team of the company as opposed to only a co-worker. The notice of the injury does not need to be in writing, but the injured worker must notify his or her employer as to the date, time and place of the work injury.
April 22, 2010 10:35 am | 
