Chicago Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Workers' Compensation

The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act is a piece of legislation originally intended to provide a safety net for workers or employees who are injured on the job. In general, worker's compensation (often shortened to workers' comp) allows qualified individuals to receive certain benefits if injured at work, without being forced to prove an employer's negligence in court. On the other hand, by accepting workers' comp benefits, the injured employee gives up his or her right to sue his or her employer for tort of negligence.

The workers' comp trade-off has both positive and negative effects. It is a beneficial system in the sense that an injured worker is entitled to regulated, statutory compensation, and is not forced to shoulder the burden of proving his or her employer negligent. However, the statutory nature of workers' comp means that an employee may receive less benefits than he or she would have in the case of a successful lawsuit.

Another issue is the bureaucracy which has grown up around workers' compensation in Illinois. Even a worker with a legitimate compensation claim is likely to find stiff resistance from his or her employer and insurer. This complicated, often hostile system can make it difficult for an injured employee to claim his or her rightful compensation.

The Chicago workers' compensation lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake can help you successfully file your workers' comp claim. To learn more, call 312-466-8200 and schedule a free initial consultation with our professional staff.