Low-wage injured workers in Illinois are being pressured by their employers not to file for Illinois Workers Compensation benefits. A new study based on a survey of workers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago has revealed that only 8 percent of those who suffered serious injuries on the job filed for compensation through their employer's insurance to pay for medical care and missed work stemming from their work injuries.
Under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act, Illinois injured workers are entitled to compensation for the entire period of time during which a doctor has ordered that they remain off work as a result of their injuries. Additionally, Illinois workers are entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, and for any permanent disability related to the work injury.
The study found that one third of workers injured on the job paid medical bills out of their own pocket and 22 percent used their own health insurance. The study reveals that there is a widespread phenomenon across the low-wage labor market in Illinois and the United States as a whole. By discouraging injured workers in Illinois from applying for Illinois Worker's Compensation benefits, Illinois businesses are denying Illinois workers their rights under Illinois law.
Low-Wage Workers Are Often Cheated, Study Says, The New York Times, September 2, 2009.
If you are a low wage injured worker in Illinois and your employer has pressured you not to file for Illinois Worker's Compensation benefits, please contact one of our experienced attorneys today for a free consultation.
