This is a question that my office routinely hears from people who have been injured at work. My response is always, “Even if everything is going perfectly right now, you will inevitably need an attorney. Don’t wait to get one until after a problem occurs because then you risk a situation where an attorney cannot…
The answer is NO. Just because the company’s “independent medical doctor” says that you don’t need more treatment or that your condition is not work related, does not mean that your case ends. There are several ways to get around that doctor’s opinion. It all starts when you receive the notice from work comp that…
In short, the answer is yes. Most people don’t call an attorney right away when they get hurt. Usually they wait until a problem arises and only then do they call an attorney. The problem might be a medical bill the insurance company refuses to pay, treatment the insurance company refuses to approve, or it…
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 was intended to provide significant legal protections for workers’ benefits. In many ways, ERISA did just that. ERISA provided legal protection and fairness in providing employee pension, health insurance and disability insurance benefits. However, there is one aspect of ERISA, called the ‘reservation of discretion’ which…
Chances are that if you have made the decision to apply for disability, you have talked to your doctor first about whether you qualify for disability. If your doctor has said that you’re disabled, you may not feel the need to hire an attorney because your doctor’s word should be good enough, right? Wrong. SSA…
At times, when an offer is communicated to a client, the client responds with a quick, “that’s not a good offer.” The client’s response may or may not be accurate. What strikes me though, is how did the client determine what his case is worth? Ultimately, every case is worth what the arbitrator would award…
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So often in our busy lives we end up with blinders on that keep us focused only on ourselves, our jobs, our close family and friends. And even though our jobs may involve helping others in some…
Part of the job of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is to determine if a worker’s condition of ill-being resulted from work. Often a person’s condition of ill- being has what is called an insidious outset. An insidious onset occurs where a person’s condition worsens over time through no apparent cause. The person’s body is…
Open Medical Rights? What to do when your former attorney won’t help get treatment approved after your case has closed. Over the years, Black & Jones has had several new clients come into our office lost and unsure what to do. Their former attorneys won’t respond to their phone calls after their file closes. They…
Wondering how best to decide which law firm to hire for your workers’ compensation claim or Social Security Disability claim? There are four important factors to consider—the law firm’s reputation, the attitude of the firm’s attorneys who will be assigned to your case, the law firm’s experience with cases like yours, and the location of…
What happens when a work related injury leaves you with permanent restrictions and your employer cannot accommodate those restrictions? You find yourself without a job, without an income, and very little hope that you will find an employer who is willing to tolerate your restrictions. Often times when accommodating work is found, it is for…
Now more than ever, it is important to hire an attorney for your workers’ compensation injury. Governor Rauner wants to reform the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, claiming that Illinois workers are paid too much money for their injuries, too many injuries are compensable, and the medical expenses are too high. Governor Rauner claims Illinois is…
