(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…
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Cases in Illinois If you were injured on someone else’s property — in a store, parking lot, apartment complex, or business — you may have the right to recover compensation.At McHargue & Jones, LLC, our experienced Chicago premises liability lawyers help injury victims hold negligent property owners accountable. Premises…
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…
Fighting for Injured Workers Across Illinois Our firm is proud to share two recent victories at trial before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) — each involving serious injuries where insurance companies denied necessary medical care.In both cases, the arbitrators found in favor of our clients, ordering authorization for surgery, payment of medical bills, and…
Are you a remote or WFH worker in Illinois who suffered an injury while working? The law in Illinois has expanded to cover a wide range of injuries and accidents involving remote or WFH workers. If you believe that your injury is not covered because it happened outside of your immediate workplace, or if your…
If you were hurt at work in Illinois, filing a workers’ compensation claim can feel overwhelming. Medical bills pile up quickly, paychecks stop, and insurance adjusters may already be asking questions. Illinois law does provide strong protections for injured workers — but only if you follow the right steps, meet strict deadlines, and document everything…
Injured at work? You have rights your employer may not explain. While workers’ compensation is meant to protect employees after a workplace injury, many employers and insurance companies quietly work to delay, minimize, or deny valid claims. Understanding how the system really works can help you protect your health, income, and future. If you were…
If you were injured at work in Illinois, you may be wondering: “When should I hire a workers’ comp attorney?” Illinois workers’ comp law caps attorney fees at 20%, and that fee is exactly the same whether you hire us: The day after your accident After treatment After a denial After an IME Right before…
What does the insurance adjuster mean “it’s under investigation”? You hurt yourself at work and you opened a claim with the insurance company. They should be paying your benefits, right? But the adjuster is telling you that they are investigating and don’t want to pay. What does that mean, and what can you do next?…
Yes — in most Illinois workers’ compensation cases, you can choose your own doctor.If you are injured at work in Chicago, your employer or its insurance company may tell you that you must treat at a company clinic such as Concentra Medical Center. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, injured workers generally have the right to…
Illinois workers’ compensation covers workplace assaults and violent attacks when an employee is injured because of their job duties or work environment. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, employees in Chicago and across Illinois who are assaulted by patients, inmates, students, customers, delivery recipients, or members of the public may be entitled to full benefits,…
