Workers' Comp
When it comes to dealing with workers’ compensation claims, you may hear about something called an Independent Medical Examination (IME), or as it’s known under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, a “Section 12 exam.” It’s actually a tool frequently used by insurance companies to shape the trajectory of your claim. But should you comply with it?
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Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Selecting the right attorney for your workers' compensation case is crucial, but does your attorney have to be in the same state where your injury occurred? Let's explore this question and understand the importance of having a local attorney by your side.
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Local Representation
Seeking legal representation can be like deciding where to go out to eat when you have no options in the fridge. You can wait in the backed-up fast food drive-thru where they’ll probably forget your side of fries—or you can stop by the diner just down the street where the server knows your name, your order and always makes sure you have the best possible experience. We don't sell food at Black & Jones, but we serve up a pretty good case when it comes to workers’ compensation hearings. Here are 5 reasons why seeking representation locally can make all the difference.
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Workers' Comp
At Black & Jones, we know that when it comes to navigating the complexities of workers’ compensation claims, having the right legal representation can sometimes make or break your case. So, where in the world do you find the best one for you, and what should you be looking for? We have a few tips you should consider.
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Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Workplace accidents can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. And if that’s not challenging enough, you must navigate the complex landscape that is the workers’ compensation system. This is where the expertise of a local Rockford workers’ compensation attorney becomes invaluable to ensure you have the support you need to get the benefits you deserve.
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Workers' Comp
As if getting hurt on the job isn’t stressful enough, now it’s time to navigate the workers’ compensation system—which, unfortunately, is filled with red tape, tons of paperwork, and sometimes, even an employer who doesn’t want you to file a workers’ compensation claim. At Black & Jones, we serve to protect Rockford and nearby communities to make sure you receive the payment you deserve. More importantly, our team wants to see you get back to the life you love. Check out the top workers’ compensation FAQs people call and ask us about.
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Workers' Comp
Are you in need of a workers' compensation attorney to help you navigate the complex legal terrain of workplace injuries? Here are 5 tips from an experienced Rockford law firm to guide you through the process of selecting the ideal attorney who will champion your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your case!
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Workers' Comp
To determine if an individual is an employee, as opposed to an independent contractor, and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation in Illinois, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission assesses several key factors. These factors revolve around the level of control an employer exerts over the contractor’s work.
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Workers' Comp
Recently the Appellate Court upheld a Commission decision, which found that a secretary at a school who slipped and fell on snow in the school parking lot did sustain a compensable work-related injury and the employer was responsible for benefits.
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Workers' Comp
If you’ve been hurt on the job, understanding the Illinois workers' compensation process can help you start the process of filing a claim. Knowing your rights can also empower you to receive fair compensation, medical benefits, rehabilitation services and more.
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Local Representation
If an attorney you do not know calls you or shows up at your door, do not talk to them! It may be an attorney for the other party or an insurance company. Or, it may be an unethical attorney trying to get your business.
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Social Security
Social Security Disability (SSD) hearings can be time-consuming and complex. With the help of a trusted attorney to guide you, you can file an appeal and fight for the disability compensation you deserve. Here are the basics you need to know to prepare for your hearing.
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Workers' Comp
Workers' compensation provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job or have a work-related illness. But this compensation isn’t automatically given to injured workers. A claim must be properly filed and meet qualifications. And unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to make simple, yet costly, mistakes during the claims process.
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Workers' Comp
Suffering a work-related injury or illness can be a challenging experience both physically and emotionally. Workers' compensation serves as a vital safety net, providing financial support and access to medical care. However, many individuals find themselves wondering about the timeline and duration of a workers' compensation case.
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Workers' Comp
A question the workers’ compensation attorneys at Black & Jones commonly hear is, “when will I receive my benefits?” When you’ve been injured on the job, you want to get back to normal. You want to get the care and compensation you need and move on. As top workers’ rights lawyers in Northern Illinois, this is exactly what our team strives to do.
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Workers' Comp
If an injury you received at work requires surgery, you are likely entitled to compensation. Don’t hesitate to get the medical care you need to address your workplace injury. And be sure to report your injury to your employer right away and reach out to a workers’ compensation attorney to help you file a claim.
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Workers' Comp
When you are injured at work, your rights are governed by state law. Each state has its own law governing the rights and responsibilities of the parties. And while some things are similar across all states, there are many things that are different. Sometimes, you have the option to file your case in more than one state. Therefore, it is important to pick the state which has a law that is most advantageous to you.
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Workers' Comp
Choosing a workers’ compensation attorney can feel like picking a random card from a deck and hiring the attorney whose name appears on the card. Like medical doctors, attorneys often limit their practice to specific areas of the law and if you have not had a work-related injury before, you likely have no need to be acquainted with an attorney that handles that kind of case. And doing a search online can feel like you are bombarded by insincere advertisements. This article is meant to provide some insight and tips for choosing the right attorney for you. It is important that you find an attorney that is experienced, aggressive and that cares about you and your case. So here are three tips for choosing the right attorney.
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Workers' Comp
Black & Jones Attorneys at Law recently won permanent and total disability benefits for an injured worker who developed bilateral carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome because of her repetitive work activities. She spent 10 years as a packer on an assembly line, performing highly repetitive work with her hands before developing numbness and tingling in her hands in 2011.
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Workers' Comp
Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information with the world. From posting updates about our daily lives to sharing our thoughts and opinions, social media has become an integral part of our lives. However, when it comes to an active workers’ compensation case, it is crucial to limit social media presence.
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Workers' Comp
If you are injured at work, chances are high that the workers’ compensation insurance company or your employer will eventually require you to attend what is called an independent medical examination (IME). This is more accurately and more fairly called a “Section 12 exam” as it is set pursuant to Section 12 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
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Social Security
The Social Security Administration (SSA) finally provided recipients a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits in 2023. According to the announcement, Social Security beneficiaries would get an 8.7% increase in their monthly payments starting in January 2023. This is the largest COLA increase since 1982 when benefits were increased by 7.4%.
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Workers' Comp
The roads in Northern Illinois, especially during the winter construction season, can be a hazard for construction workers and drivers alike. Cold, snow, ice and other extreme winter conditions can contribute to several types of construction accidents. In addition, with temperatures dropping and snow and ice covering the ground, many people are at risk of suffering injuries while on the job. These injuries can range from minor bruises and sprains to serious injuries, such as broken bones, head trauma and even death.
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Workers' Comp
But what if the accident was my fault? This is a very commonly asked question when filing a claim for workers’ compensation. The short answer is yes; it typically doesn’t matter if the incident was your fault. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not eligible for workers’ compensation—especially your employer.
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Workers' Comp
You don’t want to risk not getting paid the benefits you are owed. Get an attorney who can help ensure prompt and reasonable payment.
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Workers' Comp
Many people who file workers’ compensation claims are hardworking, loyal and honest employees who simply got in an accident at work, by no fault of their own.
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Workers' Comp
Illinois law protects employees from retaliation and discrimination for exercising their rights under the IL Workers’ Compensation Act.
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Workers' Comp
This comprehensive list will provide a step-by-step process of how to act following a workplace incident, remember that you have the power to immediately contact a trusted lawyer to help you file for compensation.
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Workers' Comp
We know how difficult it can be to sustain an injury or illness from a workplace incident. And, it’s okay if you don’t know everything about Workers’ Compensation yet. In fact, many of those injured are unaware of their rights to recover benefits.
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COVID-19
Regardless of whether you think everyone should get vaccinated or no one should, or that everyone should wear a mask or not, it is important to know what your employer can and cannot mandate in the workplace.
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Social Security
Wondering how best to decide which law firm to hire for your Social Security Disability claim? When you seek counsel, make sure they are highly experienced in Social Security Disability claims and, in the end, will ultimately fight for you.
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Workers' Comp, Police & Fire
If you or someone you know is a firefighter, EMT or paramedic and was diagnosed with MRSA or any other bloodborne pathogen, lung or respiratory disease or condition, heart or vascular disease or condition, hypertension, tuberculosis, or cancer resulting in disability, you may be entitled to benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
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Social Security
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a social insurance program under which workers earn coverage for benefits by working and paying Social Security taxes on their earnings. The program provides benefits to disabled workers and their dependents and helps them earn lost income.
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Workers' Comp
When you get hurt at work, you want an attorney who will be on your side. You want an attorney who will tell you what your rights and responsibilities are. And you want a lawyer who is willing to go to bat for you; someone willing to go to trial and fight.
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Workers' Comp
Have you ever had an employer say that it is not a work-related injury because you were just standing up or reaching or walking? Unfortunately, when an employer or insurance company says something like that, often employees believe them. Yet it is not necessarily true, and most likely is wrong!
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Workers' Comp
Under Illinois law, you must file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission within three years of the injury or accident, or within two years of the date, the insurance company or employer last pays a benefit related to the injury or accident.
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Local Representation
How do you know if you need an attorney? When should you get an attorney? Here is some helpful advice on making those determinations.
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Workers' Comp, COVID-19, Videos
A lot of employees are going to be exposed to coronavirus or COVID-19 while working; if that happens, you should contact an attorney. If you test positive and here's why sometimes, if you're exposed, you may have a compensable work comp claim.
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Workers' Comp
There are a lot of things to watch out for in a settlement that could ultimately harm an injured worker. I will highlight a few of those problems here and what you can do about them.
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Workers' Comp, COVID-19
In another unprecedented move today, the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission repealed the emergency rule amendment entered April 15, 2020. Recall that Governor Pritzker announced the amendment in his daily briefing, indicating that all frontline workers who test positive for COVID-19 would be entitled to a rebuttable presumption that they contracted the virus at work.
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Workers' Comp, COVID-19
Today, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission made the unprecedented move of enacting an emergency amendment to the Rules Governing the Practice before the Commission to help protect our first responders and front line workers.
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Workers' Comp, COVID-19
While we pray no one reading this gets sick from it, the reality is that there is a good chance you might. And we want to make sure you know your rights ahead of time if you are exposed to it at work.
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Local Representation, Videos, Our Team
Meet Attorney Tracy Jones at Black and Jones Attorneys at Law, a Northern Illinois native who grew up in Rochelle, Illinois, now dedicating her career to serving the people of the area.
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Police & Fire
Last week, House Bill 2028 became law drastically increasing benefits paid to the families of our law enforcement officers and firefighters tragically killed while in the line of duty. This is such an important and well deserved change.
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Police & Fire
I have had several firefighters, EMTs and paramedics ask me if they can get compensation for their heart or lung disease under “the new Heart and Lung Act.”
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Workers' Comp, Police & Fire
Yes, first responders are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits when they are injured while providing help in their official capacity while off the clock.
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Workers' Comp, Social Security
Unfortunately, no matter how cautious we are, accidents sometimes happen in the workplace. Losing a loved one in a traumatic accident is hard; and the last thing you should have to worry about is how to pay for the funeral and survive financially without them.
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Social Security
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 was intended to provide significant legal protections for workers’ benefits. There is one aspect of ERISA, called the ‘reservation of discretion’ which insurance companies and plan administrators have been able to use to deny workers health and disability benefits. Under a recent Illinois federal court decision, this has changed.
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Workers' Comp, Local Representation
Illinois case law guides the attorneys and arbitrator what may be awarded at trial by reporting what cases with similar evidence were awarded at trial. So when the client says, “that’s not a good offer,” it is unlikely the client did the legal research to form an accurate picture of what his case is worth.
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Workers' Comp
An insidious onset occurs where a person’s condition worsens over time through no apparent cause. The person’s body is simply wearing out.
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Workers' Comp
What to do when your former attorney won’t help get treatment approved after your case has closed.
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Workers' Comp
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.
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Workers' Comp, Local Representation
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.
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Workers' Comp
Have you received a letter from the worker’s compensation insurance carrier telling you that they are denying approval for medical treatment recommended by your doctor? You need to know that their “decision” is not necessarily final.
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Local Representation
Does the law firm you are thinking about hiring have the abilities to employ legal procedures to your benefit? When used properly, legal procedures are often more effective in getting a client what he needs than the law itself.
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Workers' Comp
Unfortunately, when a business is allowing employees to work in an environment or around equipment that is blatantly unsafe, injuries not only are likely to happen, but they can be devastating.
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Workers' Comp
Often an injured worker will question why he didn’t receive as much in compensation for his injury as a friend of his received for his injury. So why didn’t he receive as much, or more, compensation than his friend did?
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Workers' Comp
Undocumented workers’ who suffer an injury arising out of and in the course of employment have the rights afforded by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, with a few exceptions.
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Local Representation, Our Team
Often people come to Black & Jones Attorneys at Law after the insurance company has stopped paying for medical care and/or weekly benefits. The individuals are confused because everything the insurance company asked of them they did.
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Workers' Comp
Illinois has adopted a Preferred Provider Program for injured workers. This allows the employer and/or its insurance company to set up a preferred provider network.
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