By Matthew C. Jones, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney If an insurance adjuster tells you that your Illinois workers’ compensation case is only worth a small percentage because of an “impairment rating,” be careful. An impairment rating is not the same thing as permanent partial disability, it is not the same thing as the percentage loss…
If your workers’ comp doctor sends you back to work but you are still in pain, the right answer depends on which doctor released you, whether the note says full duty or light duty, and whether you can safely perform your actual job. Do not just disappear or stop showing up without communicating. Get the…
A shoulder surgery settlement after a car accident in Illinois can range from $50,000 to $500,000+, depending on the injury, surgery, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, fault, work restrictions, and available insurance coverage. These cases often involve rotator cuff tears, labrum tears, SLAP tears, shoulder impingement, dislocations, fractures, nerve symptoms, or permanent loss…
A neck surgery settlement after a car accident in Illinois can range from $30,000 to over $1,000,000+. The value depends on the type of surgery, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, permanent restrictions, fault, and available insurance coverage. These cases are very different from minor whiplash or neck strain claims. Once a car accident…
Updated June 7, 2026 by Matthew Jones, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer McHargue & Jones, LLC Quick answer: The insurance company’s IME doctor does not automatically win. An Illinois workers’ comp arbitrator can believe your treating doctor over the IME doctor, especially when the treating doctor’s opinion is better supported by your medical records, diagnostic tests,…
Case study quick answer: A packing-plant worker at an Illinois meat processing and packing facility was denied cervical spine surgery and TTD benefits after the insurance company relied on an IME. McHargue & Jones took the treating surgeon’s deposition, cross-examined the IME doctor, tried the case before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, and won…
By Matthew Jones, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer McHargue & Jones, LLC Updated April 2026 Quick answer: Probably not. Most Illinois workers’ comp cases do not end in a full trial. In my practice, roughly 95–98% of cases do not go all the way to trial. But many disputed cases still require a request for hearing,…
By Matthew Jones, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer McHargue & Jones, LLC Last reviewed: April 2026 Quick answer: In Illinois workers’ compensation, a “trial” usually means an arbitration hearing before an arbitrator at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, or IWCC. There is no jury. The arbitrator reviews testimony, medical records, doctor depositions, IME reports, bills, wage…
By Matthew C. Jones Yes, you may be able to get a loan or cash advance on a workers’ compensation case in Illinois—but you need to be very careful. These loans can help keep you afloat when the insurance company cuts off your checks, denies surgery, or tries to starve you into a cheap settlement….
Short answer: you do not keep the full settlement. In an Illinois car accident case, the gross settlement is usually reduced by attorney fees, case costs, and medical bills or liens before the final check goes out. That is why people asking how much their Illinois car accident case is worth should also ask what…
Short answer: insurance policy limits are the most an insurance company has to pay on a claim. In a typical Illinois car accident case, that may mean only $25,000 for one injured person. In a commercial truck accident case, the available insurance can be much higher, but the coverage analysis is also more complicated because…
A back strain or soft tissue back injury settlement in Illinois often ranges from $3,000 to $75,000+ for non-surgical car accident cases. The value depends on the medical treatment, MRI findings, pain and suffering, lost wages, treatment duration, fault, and available insurance coverage. Many back strain cases involve physical therapy, doctor visits, medication, missed work,…
A neck sprain or soft tissue neck strain settlement after a car accident in Illinois often falls somewhere between $3,000 and $50,000, depending on the medical bills, length of treatment, wage loss, pain and suffering, fault issues, and available insurance coverage. These are often whiplash injuries from rear-end accidents. The vehicle damage may not look…
If you were hurt in a crash, one of the first questions you probably have is how much a car accident lawyer costs. The short answer is this: **most car accident lawyers in Illinois work on a contingency fee**, which means you usually pay **nothing upfront** and **no attorney fees unless there is a recovery**….
If the driver who caused your crash had no insurance, you may still be able to recover compensation. In many Illinois cases, the most important claim is not against the other driver at all. It is an uninsured motorist claim through your own insurance policy. That is where many people get blindsided. They assume that…
