All too often, Illinois construction workers are caught in dangerous situations and workplace accidents. Many factors contribute to these accidents, but this fact does not diminish the loss that the loved ones of the victim may feel when they realize that they will...
Workers’ Compensation
No injury compensation for man who left work to change his tie
Everyone has had a day at work during which nothing seems to be going well. No one knows this better than a court bailiff who was recently denied workers' compensation benefits for a car accident that occurred when he left work to change his tie. This case may be...
Panel rules in favor of injured child welfare worker
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission upheld the decision of an arbitrator to award workers' compensation benefits to a child welfare specialist who suffered knee and spine injuries after a fall in her workplace's restroom. The commission's decision turned on...
Legal definition of catastrophic injury prompts disputes
An Illinois law that requires municipalities to pick up the tab on health insurance coverage for public safety workers who suffer a catastrophic injury on the job is coming in for some challenges. The issue, city officials say, is a lack of clarity over what...
Workers’ compensation study reveals startling facts in Illinois
The issue of workers' compensation at Illinois state institutions has been in the news of late. At issue is a startling claim that just a dozen or so institutions in southern Illinois made up almost one-third of the total amount awarded through the workers'...
Workers’ compensation and farmers: Not all farmers are exempt
It is not uncommon for some Illinois farmers to presume that they are exempt from carrying workers' compensation coverage. While that may be true in some cases, it not always true. During the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago this year, Chris Hemenway who...
Companies improve workers’ compensation plans
In Illinois and elsewhere, workers' compensation is available for those employees who are injured on the job. It can be used to cover medical expenses for injuries sustained while at work, and even to make up for lost wages while the employee recovers. Lately though,...
Chicago tightening workers’ compensation budget (again)
Faced with the same budget shortfalls that are affecting governments everywhere, Illinois' Windy City has a new target. Led by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Alderman Edward Burke, Chicago is cracking down on workers' compensation cases, with the goal of trimming $15 million...
Are workers’ compensation payments endangered by state debt?
Due to the weak economy and the still continuing aftershocks of the 2008 housing crisis, many state governments are having trouble paying their bills. The State of Illinois is no exception as its overdue bills amounted to $3. 8 billion at the end of fiscal 2011, which...
Construction workers’ accident results in death of one
Each year, thousands of workplace injuries happen across the country. Luckily, most of the incidents are relatively minor. Even so, the injured worker may be entitled to benefits through hir or her state's workers' compensation system. These benefits provide...

