My Employer Didn’t Believe I was Injured
FAQ,Personal Injury,Work Injury,Workers' Compensation - August 26, 2015 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
Question:
Hi, i was injured on june 19 2006. i have had 2 herniated disks.now; its degenerative.
I was injured by positioning heavy items on pallets. On January 9 2007 they fired me because i didn’t call or show up to work for 5 days. i kept telling the doctor i hurt more at work and i felt i shouldn’t go but he said i should go.
They just approved me for evaluation on physical therapy, to see what i am capable of doing. The date of this is january 30. I still have to call to confirm this appointment. I know i should have called them to keep my job, but i didn’t like how they treated me. They made me feel like i was faking my injury. Im just wondering is there any thing i can do? Or did i wait too long to talk to an attorney? Thank you for your time.
I was injured by positioning heavy items on pallets. On January 9 2007 they fired me because i didn’t call or show up to work for 5 days. i kept telling the doctor i hurt more at work and i felt i shouldn’t go but he said i should go.
They just approved me for evaluation on physical therapy, to see what i am capable of doing. The date of this is january 30. I still have to call to confirm this appointment. I know i should have called them to keep my job, but i didn’t like how they treated me. They made me feel like i was faking my injury. Im just wondering is there any thing i can do? Or did i wait too long to talk to an attorney? Thank you for your time.
Answer:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding workers’ compensation.
Based upon the information you have provided, it is my opinion that you have sustained a compensable work injury that entitles you to receive benefits for lost time, medical expenses, and permanent disability, if any, resulting from the injury. If your employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier refuses to provide benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, including payment of compensation for temporary total disability or the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment relating to your injury, now or in the future, you have a right to a hearing before an Arbitrator at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission – the court that hears such cases – in order to secure payment of those benefits.
You have asked whether you have waited too long to contact an attorney. Most authorities generally agree that an injured worker should secure the services of an attorney to handle his workers’ compensation case as soon as possible, in order to ensure that his legal rights are protected to the greatest possible extent. However, as the statute of limitations has not yet expired in your case, it is certainly not too late to seek the involvement of an attorney at this time. We would recommend that you retain the services of an experienced attorney or law firm whose practice is concentrated in the field of Illinois workers’ compensation.
If you desire legal representation in your workers’ compensation case, or if you wish to discuss this matter in greater detail, please feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment to come into our office and meet with one of our attorneys. There will be no charge for the initial consultation.
Thank you again for your interest in our firm.
Based upon the information you have provided, it is my opinion that you have sustained a compensable work injury that entitles you to receive benefits for lost time, medical expenses, and permanent disability, if any, resulting from the injury. If your employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier refuses to provide benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, including payment of compensation for temporary total disability or the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment relating to your injury, now or in the future, you have a right to a hearing before an Arbitrator at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission – the court that hears such cases – in order to secure payment of those benefits.
You have asked whether you have waited too long to contact an attorney. Most authorities generally agree that an injured worker should secure the services of an attorney to handle his workers’ compensation case as soon as possible, in order to ensure that his legal rights are protected to the greatest possible extent. However, as the statute of limitations has not yet expired in your case, it is certainly not too late to seek the involvement of an attorney at this time. We would recommend that you retain the services of an experienced attorney or law firm whose practice is concentrated in the field of Illinois workers’ compensation.
If you desire legal representation in your workers’ compensation case, or if you wish to discuss this matter in greater detail, please feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment to come into our office and meet with one of our attorneys. There will be no charge for the initial consultation.
Thank you again for your interest in our firm.
