What’s your hand worth? Based on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the utmost value of a hand lost at work (for a worker who makes the common Illinois annual salary of $42,754.40) is $168,551, whereas that same hand could be worth $156,218 in Iowa and $143,885 in Nebraska.

In Illinois workers’ compensation law, the worth of human body parts is determined by an actuarial analysis of probabilities and future values of injuries. workers compensation attorney The values are continually adjusted to maintain with inflation and changes in the economy. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission uses the fixed values of body parts to be able to strike a fair balance between compensating workers without driving insurance companies into financial ruin.

Workers’ Compensation Overview

Workers’ compensation is one of the first types of tort reform enacted in the United States. Before workers’ compensation law, people hurt at work were faced with two unpleasant alternatives: (1) they might either file lawsuits against their employers or (2) they might suck it down and buy their own injuries.

Now, employers in every state but Texas are required to keep workers’ compensation insurance. When people are injured at work, it is almost as an easy task to file claims of their states’ workers’ compensation systems, since it is always to file insurance claims after car accidents.

So as to ensure injured workers, employers and insurance companies are all treated fairly, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission continually makes changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.

Below is definitely an breakdown of the most recent group of changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, which took invest July of 2005.

Fraud Statute Established

Any party associated with committing fraud associated with a workers’ compensation dispute is guilty of a Class 4 felony and must pay complete restitution in addition to a fine. In addition, people who knowingly receive benefits by making false workers’ compensation claims can be liable for either 3 x the worth of benefits wrongfully obtained or twice the worth of coverage attempted, plus attorney fees required to bring the claim.

Penalties Increased for Uninsured Employers

Employers who fail to purchase workers’ compensation insurance are guilty of making an instantaneous and serious danger to public health. As a consequence, a work stop order can be imposed, requiring the cessation of all business operations before the employer obtains evidence of workers’ compensation insurance.

Furthermore, a knowing failure of an employer to offer workers’ compensation insurance coverage is considered a Class 4 felony, and each day’s violation takes its separate offense.

Medical Fee Schedule Established

The Commission has established a medical fee schedule, setting maximum medical fees that employers are liable for. The maximum fees are 90% of the 80th percentile of charges in a certain geographic area. If your worker’s medical bills are significantly less than what’s established by the fee schedule, then your employee will receive full workers’ compensation coverage for those bills.

Benefits Increased and Changed

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission sets maximum compensation for specific work injuries. As of February of 2006, the utmost compensation a worker can receive as caused by a death injury is the higher of $500,000 or 25 years worth of salary. That is higher compared to previous maximum (the greater of $250,000 or 20 years).

Expedited Hearings

When a hurt worker isn’t receiving any compensation for a personal injury from their employer, that worker can request an expedited hearing. An employer also can request an expedited hearing if your worker continues receiving compensation until a judgment is rendered and the employee has been released back once again to work.

Utilization Review Established

If an employer has reason to think an inured workers’ medical treatment was unnecessary or unreasonable, the employer might have the case evaluated at a utilization review. To be able to qualify for a utilization review, employers must register with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation once every two years.

Happy Employees, Employers and Insurance Companies

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission strives to reach fair results for many parties associated with work injuries. Illinois workers compensation laws benefit employees by providing fast compensation for injuries without the stress of filing lawsuits. Employers benefit from workers’ compensation insurance coverage, as it eliminates the risk of lawsuits brought by injured employees. Even insurance companies benefit from workers’ compensation law, as it sets maximum rates, which reduces the odds of unreasonable payouts. Furthermore, when insurance premiums paid by employers are invested at favorable rates, insurance companies can actually stand to get the most from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation system.

By continually adjusting the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is reaching fair results for all those associated with work injuries.