Teachers Attacked at School | Workers’ Compensation After Assaults and Student Altercations

Teachers attacked at school are often injured during assaults or physical altercations with students, parents, or co-workers—and many of these injuries are covered by workers’ compensation under Illinois law. Being struck, kicked, bitten, pushed, or hurt while restraining a student or breaking up a fight is not “just part of the job.” When violence occurs…

Chicago Nurses Attacked by Patients: Hospital Violence, Illinois Laws, and Workers’ Compensation

Chicago nurses who are attacked by patients at work are covered by Illinois workers’ compensation law. Despite new hospital safety laws, patient violence continues to injure nurses across Chicago emergency departments and inpatient units. When a nurse is assaulted on the job, workers’ compensation may provide medical treatment, wage replacement, permanent disability benefits, and—in severe…

10 Things to Know About Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Injured at work in Illinois? Here are the 10 most important things every injured worker must know about Illinois workers’ compensation in 2025 — including your rights, deadlines, benefits, settlements, medical treatment rules, and how to protect your claim. Written by Illinois workers’ compensation attorneys with 25+ years of experience and hundreds of cases tried…

The Essential Guide to Understanding Illinois Workers’ Compensation (2025)

Injured at work in Illinois? This 2025 Essential Guide explains exactly how the Illinois workers’ compensation system works — including your legal rights, filing deadlines, required medical documentation, benefit rates, settlement valuation factors, and what to do if your workers’ comp claim is delayed or denied. Authored by Illinois work injury lawyers with 25+ years…

Do I Have to Use PTO or Vacation Time for a Workers’ Comp Injury in Illinois?

(Short answer: No—your boss cannot legally make you.) When you get hurt on the job in Illinois, you should be focused on getting medical care and healing—not burning through your hard-earned vacation days or worrying whether your employer will punish you for reporting the injury. Yet, one of the top questions injured workers ask us…

How Much Is a Neck Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Compensation?

Short answer: The average workers’ comp settlement for a neck injury in Illinois varies widely. Mild neck strains that heal fully may resolve in the low five figures. Herniated disc cases with injections or surgery often land in the $50,000–$150,000+ range. Serious cervical injuries involving fusion surgery, permanent restrictions, loss of occupation, wage differential benefits,…

Slipped on Ice in a Work Parking Lot in Illinois? Your Rights Under Workers’ Comp and Third-Party Claims

If you slipped on ice or snow in a work parking lot in Illinois, you’re likely wondering: Does workers’ comp cover slipping on ice in a parking lot? What if my employer doesn’t own the lot? Can I sue the property owner or snow removal company? Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305),…

Delivery Driver Killed, Worker Injured in Stabbing at Oswego Chick-fil-A: What Chicago-Area Workers Need to Know

A tragic workplace violence incident recently occurred at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Oswego, Illinois, where a 19-year-old man was charged with murder and multiple felonies after allegedly stabbing several people. According to reports, one delivery driver was killed and another maintenance worker was seriously injured while performing job-related duties at the restaurant.(Source: ABC7 Chicago) While…

North Chicago Man Crushed to Death at Wauconda Auto Repair Shop: What Illinois Workers Should Know After a Fatal Workplace Accident

A tragic workplace accident occurred in Wauconda, Illinois, when a 37-year-old man from North Chicago was crushed to death beneath a vehicle after it fell from an elevated lift at a local auto repair shop. According to ABC7, the fatal incident happened around 8:52 a.m. at 398 W. Liberty Street when a vehicle slipped off…

Chicago Construction Worker Electrocuted on West Side: What Injured Workers and Electrical Contractors Need to Know

A tragic construction accident on Chicago’s West Side has once again highlighted the extreme dangers faced by electricians, laborers, and construction crews working near energized power lines. According to WGN News, a 33-year-old worker was killed and another was seriously injured after their lift came into contact with a live electrical line on February 25,…

How Much Is a Knee Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

How much is a knee injury worth in Illinois workers’ comp? There isn’t one “average” number that fits every case. A mild sprain that heals fully might settle in the low five figures, while meniscus or ligament tears with surgery often fall in the mid–five-figure to six-figure range. Severe knee injuries involving total knee replacement,…

How Do You Prove a Repetitive Trauma Injury in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

Repetitive trauma cases — especially involving lifting, squatting, kneeling, bending, twisting, or climbing — are some of the most highly disputed claims at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. They often turn into battles of medical causation, pitting your treating orthopedic surgeon or physical medicine doctor against the insurance company’s IME doctor. This article, written by…

How Much Is a Shoulder Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

Shoulder and rotator cuff injury settlements in Illinois workers’ compensation cases depend on the severity of the injury, whether surgery is required, permanent restrictions, and whether you can return to your old job. Most cases fall somewhere between the five- and six-figure range, but serious tears with surgery or career loss may settle much higher….