A recent fatal construction accident near Joliet and Plainfield, Illinois has drawn renewed attention to workplace safety and the legal protections available to workers and their families throughout the Chicagoland area. According to local reporting, an experienced union ironworker was killed on December 15, 2025, while working at a large mixed-use development near Interstate 55…
If you’re on workers’ compensation in Illinois, small mistakes can quietly cost you thousands of dollars in lost benefits — or even get your claim cut off entirely. Illinois workers’ comp law has strict rules about medical treatment, work restrictions, social media, surveillance, and settlement decisions, and insurance companies actively look for reasons to reduce…
If you’re searching “what workers’ comp lawyers won’t tell you,” you’re likely dealing with a workplace injury and trying to understand how workers’ compensation claims really work before making a decision you can’t undo. While workers’ compensation is meant to provide medical treatment and wage benefits, the process is often procedural, deadline-driven, and heavily dependent…
If you were injured at work in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs and are questioning whether your workers’ compensation case is being handled properly, you’re not alone. Many injured workers seek a stress-free second opinion before deciding whether to change or fire their workers’ compensation lawyer. Under Illinois law, your case belongs to you—not the…
Do I need a lawyer to get a workers’ comp settlement in Illinois? No—Illinois law does not require you to have a lawyer to settle a workers’ compensation case. However, injured workers who handle a claim on their own may receive a lower settlement than those with legal representation. Insurance companies often take claims more…
If you were injured at work and filed a workers’ compensation claim, you’re probably asking the same questions almost every injured worker asks: when will my workers’ comp case settle, how long does it take, will workers’ comp offer a settlement, and do I need a lawyer to settle my case? Under Illinois law, there…
A recent Amazon Prime semi crash on the Kennedy Expressway (I-94) near Lawrence Avenue shut down lanes on Chicago’s Northwest Side, drawing attention to the risks faced by delivery drivers and commercial workers across Chicago and Cook County. The crash occurred around 10:17 p.m. in the northbound lanes, according to Illinois State Police. While no…
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…
Illinois workers’ compensation law establishes specific requirements for reporting work injuries, obtaining medical treatment, and receiving wage replacement benefits. This page summarizes ten core rules injured workers should understand, including filing deadlines, available benefits, medical treatment rights, settlement considerations, and common issues that can affect workers’ compensation claims under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. 10…
(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…
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,…
UPS workers in Illinois—especially at major hubs like UPS CACH in Hodgkins, the Morgan Street Center in Chicago, and Bedford Park—face a high risk of serious work injuries. Package handlers, drivers, feeder drivers, and seasonal UPS workers are frequently injured by heavy lifting, fast-paced warehouse work, delivery crashes, slip-and-falls, and dog attacks. If you were…
Permanent Scar From a Work Injury in Illinois? Don’t Guess What It’s Worth. A serious burn, cut, or surgical scar can follow you long after the accident—every time you look in the mirror or walk into work. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, you may be entitled to separate money just for permanent scarring or disfigurement,…
Can You Lose Your Job for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois? It’s one of the most common questions we hear from injured workers at McHargue & Jones: “Can my employer fire me for filing a workers’ compensation claim?” The short answer is no — Illinois law protects you from being fired just because…
Understanding Illinois Workers’ Compensation Benefits If you’ve been injured at work in Illinois, the Workers’ Compensation Act may provide coverage for medical care, wage replacement, vocational help, and long-term disability. This guide breaks down each major benefit so you know what you’re entitled to and how to claim it. Workers’ compensation is not just about…
