People may think of work injuries and occupational diseases as strictly physical harm for purposes of eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. However, in three kinds of situations, mental or psychological injury is also compensable under Illinois...
Rockford Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law Blog
Illinois workers’ compensation: Harm from workplace violence
Unfortunately, workplace violence is a reality of modern American life. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it ranks as the third-leading cause of work-related deaths here in the United States. But what are the legal remedies for...
Illinois employees at risk of harm in summer working conditions
The first day of summer 2020 has just passed with the hottest months yet to come. In Illinois, July and August can bring oppressive heat and humidity – a difficult combination from a safety and health standpoint for people who work out of doors or in indoor work...
Gov. Pritzker signs bill concerning COVID-19 and workers’ compensation
On June 5, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a mostly bipartisan bill that created a presumption in state law that for workers’ compensation eligibility purposes, when an essential worker contracts COVID-19, a rebuttable presumption is created that the...
Illinois workers’ compensation lump-sum settlements
Every year, Illinois workers’ compensation claimants submit at least 40,000 settlement contracts to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) for agency arbitrators to review and approve. These settlements are negotiated between workers with...
Can I seek SSDI benefits if my type 2 diabetes keeps me from working?
Sometimes our good health does not last forever. For example, a person in their middle age may develop type 2 diabetes, the complications of which may make it impossible to work. This can be a devastating blow not only to their health, but also to their pocketbook....
Illinois workers’ compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome
Many jobs involve repetitive use of the hands or arms. This upper limb overuse can cause repetitive stress (or strain) injuries (RSI), which can range in severity from mild to debilitating. When a work-related RSI like carpal tunnel syndrome prevents work altogether...
Illinois workers’ compensation in the time of COVID-19
As we find our way through the myriad of challenges imposed by COVID-19, Illinois faces an unresolved workers’ compensation issue – how to determine eligibility for first responders and essential workers who contract the coronavirus. Arising out of and in the course...
Illinois homebuilder cited for exposing roofers to fall risk
Now that it is spring, it will become more common to see roofers at elevated heights on new construction or on established buildings needing roofing services. Obviously, roofing is an inherently dangerous occupation. State and federal work safety laws require Illinois...
New rule will make English ability irrelevant to disability determination
On April 27, a revised Social Security regulation will take effect that will remove a person's limited English proficiency (LEP) from consideration as a factor in disability claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)....
