Nurses and Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claims

Nursing jobs are some of the toughest, most physical jobs around.

Whether you are a Certified Nurse Assistant, Registered Nurse, or LPN there are lots of injuries that can result from your job duties.

The lifting, moving, and assisting certainly lead to back strains, herniated discs or other spinal injuries.

Many nurses also injure their shoulders and arms because of the stress and strain of working with patients and certain medical equipment.

I have also seen examples of repetitive duties that have led to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Exposure to infections and diseases are also a dangerous part of the job.

Over time you may have developed injuries that you recovered from or developed into a nagging injury.

In Illinois, this should not prevent you from claiming that you have aggravated a pre-existing injury.

Another defense that insurance companies like to use is that some of your outside of work activity caused your condition.

This might be something like exercise classes, or working around the house or yard.

The best thing to do if you are injured at work is to notify your supervisor as soon as possible, fill out an accident report, and make sure you go to the doctor right away, and tell the doctor how you were hurt on the job.

Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

 

WorkersCompensation.com CompNewsNetwork – Social Media Helps Secure Conviction of Ohio Woman Committing Workers’ Comp Fraud

WorkersCompensation.com CompNewsNetwork – Social Media Helps Secure Conviction of Ohio Woman Committing Workers' Comp Fraud.

Click above to read.

Facebook is amazing. Do not assume that no one is paying attention to you.

 

Injured firefighter files lawsuit in crash that killed another firefighter

Injured firefighter files lawsuit in crash that killed another firefighter.

Click above to read.

Lawsuit filed against truck driver and his employer in Federal Court.

 

2013 – 05/16/2013 – US Labor Department’s OSHA cites A.W.T. World Trade for 28 violations, including unsafe spray finishing operations at Chicago factory

2013 – 05/16/2013 – US Labor Department's OSHA cites A.W.T. World Trade for 28 violations, including unsafe spray finishing operations at Chicago factory.

Click above to read.

A long list of safety violations. Failure to train for use of hazardous chemicals, lack of machine guards, exposure to flammables and more.

 

WorkersCompensation.com CompNewsNetwork – How Your Employees Can Help Reduce Your Workers Compensation Costs

WorkersCompensation.com CompNewsNetwork – How Your Employees Can Help Reduce Your Workers Compensation Costs.

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I have not seen any company do this.
Have you?
Most often a workers’ compensation insurance company will hire a nurse case manager to follow up on medical treatment.

 

Arizona: Scar on Neck Qualifies for Facial/Head Disfigurement Award | the workcomp writer

Arizona: Scar on Neck Qualifies for Facial/Head Disfigurement Award | the workcomp writer.

Click above to read.

Illinois law is more liberal than this. It allows for recovery for scars on the arms and hands, face and head, and the body below the knee and above the nipple.

 

Before You Settle Your Workers Compensation Case

Most Illinois Work Comp cases can be settled after you are done with your medical treatment.

However, there are some cases where you have ongoing problems and may need future medical treatment.

Examples are surgical hardware that may need to be removed.

Or some expensive medication that is required for your ongoing treatment.

You can try to settle with the insurance company and ask for future medical treatment to be covered.

But many insurance companies will not agree to this.

The problem is that when you settle the case is over and you will have to pay for any future medical on your own.

Some options are to wait to settle until you have all your surgeries.

Or you can ask for money in the settlement to cover the future medical.

If you have a trial of your case and you win, then you are automatically entitled to payment of future medical bills that are related to the original injury.

Enforcing the future medical is not as easy as it sounds.

The Work Comp insurance company has the right to argue that your future treatment needs are not related to the original injury or that you no longer need the medications you are taking.

This process can take some time to get the evidence required to win your case again.

Questions about when to settle your case and what is a fair settlement? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.