Springfield, Sangamon County Workers’ Comp

Workers’ Comp Attorney Serving Springfield, Sangamon County

When you’ve experienced a work injury or occupational illness in Springfield, don’t wait to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney from Galanti, Patti & Winterscheidt, P.C., to discuss your rights to financial benefits to support your recovery. Contact our firm today for a free initial case evaluation to discuss how we can help you with your worker’s comp claim.

Why Choose a Workers’ Compensation Attorney from Galanti, Patti, & Winterscheidt, P.C.?

Dealing with a work injury or occupational illness can cause significant anxiety and stress. Getting the financial benefits you need can make a difference in your recovery. For years, injured workers throughout Sangamon County have trusted the legal team at Galanti, Patti & Winterscheidt, P.C., for experienced advice and advocacy when navigating the workers’ compensation process because:

Our lawyers take the time to listen to your story and understand your needs so we can fight for your goals and interests.
We focus solely on workers’ compensation law, which gives us in-depth insight into workplace accidents and work-related injuries and deep familiarity with workers’ comp law and the claims process.
Our firm strives to ensure you never feel alone as you recover from catastrophic work injuries, working hard to get you the medical care you need and advocating for your interests throughout the claims process.
Our attorneys have a proven track record of success over hundreds of workers’ compensation claims, including in Commission hearings and appeals.

Understanding the Illinois Workers’ Compensation System

In Illinois, employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses can obtain financial benefits from their employers under the state’s workers’ compensation system. Illinois’s workers’ comp laws entitle injured or ill workers to specific financial benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois include:

Medical Benefits – Under workers’ comp, employers must pay for all reasonably necessary medical care for an employee’s work-related injury or illness, including emergency care, doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic, prescriptions, prosthetics, and prescribed medical appliances and devices. In some cases, employers must also cover the costs of mobility devices or home renovations to install disability accommodations.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits – When an employee cannot work due to a work injury or occupational illness, they may receive partial income reimbursement, equal to two-thirds of their pre-injury average weekly wage, subject to minimum and maximum limits. Employers should start TTD benefits after an employee’s third missed day; employees can receive benefits for the first three days of missed work after missing 14 days.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits – TPD benefits provide two-thirds reimbursement of the difference between a worker’s average weekly wage before an injury or illness and their current lower wage while on light duty or part-time during their recovery.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Maintenance Benefits – Workers who cannot return to their pre-injury job may receive vocational services that include job counseling, job search programs, and vocational retraining and educational programs at accredited learning institutions.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits – Once a worker reaches maximum medical improvement – the point at which no further treatment will likely improve the worker’s injury or condition – they may receive PPD benefits for the complete or partial loss of a part of the body, the loss of the use of a part of the body, or the partial loss of use of the whole body. Benefit amounts depend on the nature of the worker’s disability and their pre-injury average weekly wage.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits – A worker who suffers the complete, permanent loss of or loss of use of both hands, arms, feet, legs, or eyes, or two or more such parts, or who has a disability that renders them unable to do any work that has a reasonably stable employment market, can receive lifetime two-thirds reimbursement of their pre-injury average weekly wage.
Death and Survivors’ Benefits – When a worker passes away from a work-related injury or occupational illness, their dependents may receive financial contributions toward funeral and burial expenses and payments equal to two-thirds of the worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage.

What Steps Should You Take After a Workplace Accident?

If you were hurt on the job, steps you should take to protect your right to receive workers’ compensation benefits during your recovery include:

Report your injury or illness to your employer as soon as possible to preserve your workers’ compensation benefits eligibility.
Gather any documentation or evidence from the workplace accident, such as accident scene photos and videos or accident or incident reports.
Seek immediate medical attention and inform your physician that you’ve sought treatment for a work-related injury or illness.
Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions, and provide your employer with a copy of the medical restrictions imposed by your physician.
Keep copies of any bills or invoices for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Gather your pay stubs if you need to take time off work during your recovery.

Finally, contact Galanti, Patti & Winterscheidt, P.C., as soon as possible to get help pursuing the financial relief you need and deserve from your employer.

How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Under Illinois’ workers’ compensation system, you should report a work injury or occupational illness to your employer immediately after a workplace accident or receive a diagnosis for your occupational illness, ideally no later than 45 days after a workplace accident. Delaying notice of your workers’ compensation claim to your employer may jeopardize your eligibility for financial benefits.

However, when you need to pursue a formal workers’ comp claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the law requires you to file an application for benefits within three years of the date of a workplace accident or two years after the date that your employer last paid workers’ compensation benefits. Failing to file a timely workers’ comp claim may result in losing the right to benefits, making it critical to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible after getting hurt at work to ensure your claim gets filed on time.

What Happens If Your Workers’ Comp Claim Gets Denied?

When your employer or the workers’ compensation insurance company denies your claim for benefits, you have the right to file a formal claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission to pursue a determination on your benefits claim. Filing a formal workers’ comp claim begins with filing an Application for Adjustment of Claim with the Commission and serving a copy of your application on your employer. Once the Commission receives your application, you can request a trial before an arbitrator.

Should the arbitrator rule against you, you may appeal the decision to a panel of three Workers’ Compensation Commissioners. This panel will review the arbitrator’s decision, the trial transcript, and the parties’ written briefs and hold a hearing where the parties can present brief oral arguments to support their positions. A private employee may appeal an adverse decision by the Commission to the Illinois state courts.

Contact Our Firm Today to Discuss Your Workers’ Comp Claim

If you suffered an injury in a workplace accident or received a diagnosis of an occupational illness, you need experienced legal advice and advocacy to fight for the workers’ compensation benefits you need for your recovery. Contact Galanti, Patti & Winterscheidt, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable workers’ comp lawyer to learn how our firm serves hardworking people in Springfield and throughout Sangamon County.

Directions to Our Office in East Alton, IL

You can reach our office at 150 S. Bellwood Dr., East Alton, IL 62024:

From the North:

Take IL-3 South towards East Alton
Turn left onto E Airline Dr
Turn right onto S Bellwood Dr
Destination will be on the left

From the South:

Take IL-3 North towards East Alton
Turn right onto E Airline Dr
Turn right onto S Bellwood Dr
Destination will be on the left

From the East:

Take I-270 West
Take exit 7 for IL-3 towards Wood River
Merge onto IL-3 North
Turn right onto E Airline Dr
Turn right onto S Bellwood Dr
Destination will be on the left

From the West:

Take IL-140 East towards East Alton
Turn right onto IL-3 South
Turn left onto E Airline Dr
Turn right onto S Bellwood Dr
Destination will be on the left

Practice Areas

Schedule Your Meeting Now

To learn more from our lawyers about filing your workers’ compensation claim, contact our office in East Alton, Illinois, by calling 618-258-0420 or sending an email. We look forward to meeting you and advocating for you as you attempt to recover from a work accident injury and return to your job.

YOUR PREMIER ILLINOIS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FIRM

Schedule A Free Consultation

We help injured workers protect their rights. Call us at 618-258-0420. Your email message receives our prompt attention. We offer discounts on our contingency fees to union members and military veterans.