Working in construction is an important job. You deserve credit for building our communities — and our country.
And to do this job, you take on more than your share of risk.
Workers’ Compensation benefits are supposed to be there for you when you get hurt at work and face medical bills and a loss of income.
But insurance claims adjusters and defense attorneys might try to stand in your way.
At Schiro & Themer, we stand up to them.
Call us today if you can’t work and need Workers’ Comp benefits.
What Does Illinois Workers’ Comp Provide Me?
Workers’ Comp was created to provide benefits for you when you’re hurt on the job. At the same time, it protects employers from lawsuits.
While you can’t sue your employer under Workers’ Comp, the system also spares you from having to prove your employer did something wrong to get benefits.
Almost any injury you experience on the job qualifies.
These are the basic benefits you’re entitled to receive:
- Lost Wages — When you can’t work because of a job-related illness or injury, you’re entitled to benefits equaling 2/3 of your average weekly pay.
- Medical Care — To help you recover, Workers’ Comp should cover your doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications and any other health care costs — including mileage to and from doctor visits — resulting from your workplace injury.
- Settlement — When you’ve completed medical treatment, you’re entitled to a settlement for the disability caused by your injury. The attorneys at Schiro & Themer will fight to make sure you receive the maximum settlement possible.
Hazards in the Construction Industry
You’re probably familiar with danger spots around your own workplace.
Across the entire country, construction is one of the most dangerous industries, according to numbers from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics on deaths from work accidents in 2015.
That year, 937 workers died doing construction jobs nationwide.
Almost 200,000 people worked in construction in Illinois in 2012, according to a report from the Illinois Center for Injury Prevention.
The center said 16 Illinois workers died that year in the construction industry.
These are among the hazards you can face:
- Falls
- Cuts
- Getting hit by large objects
- Getting pinned between objects
- Power tool injuries
- Electrocution
- Fires
- Breathing fine particles
- Chemical exposure
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Lifting injuries
If you’ve been hurt at work, it doesn’t cost you anything to talk to us about your Workers’ Comp case.
Get your free case consultation.
What Do I Need to Look Out for With Insurance Companies?
Insurance companies look out for themselves first, not you.
From our experience at Schiro & Themer helping people win Workers’ Comp benefits, we’ve identified several ways insurance companies try to block or reduce your benefits:
- They’ll try to avoid your calls and questions.
- They’ll try to rush your case through the process so you don’t get the maximum benefits you deserve.
- They’ll try to tell you there’s a standard payment for your injury — but your case is unique.
- Attorneys for the insurance company might monitor your social media looking for information to use against you.
- They’ll offer a small amount of money to settle your case when they know you should receive much more money.
If you have a lawyer from Schiro & Themer working for you, we can make sure to submit the right evidence for your claim and protect your rights under Workers’ Comp.
One of our lawyers can help you get immediate benefits when you can’t work. We also may be able to negotiate a higher settlement in the long-run.
If you work in construction and you were hurt at work in Springfield-Decatur, Champaign-Urbana, Danville or anywhere in Central Illinois, our goal is to maximize your recovery.