In Illinois, workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory. In other words, employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Under workers’ compensation insurance policies, compensation and medical benefits are provided to employees who are injured on the job regardless of negligence or fault. Workers’ compensation laws also prohibit injured employees from suing employers in court for workplace accidents and injuries.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (IWCA) governs Chicago workers’ compensation claims and requires employers to provide injured employees with the following benefits:
If an employer fails to obtain the required workers’ compensation coverage, an injured employee will be entitled to sue the employer in civil court or file a claim with the state workers’ compensation system. Exposure to a civil lawsuit can be extremely costly and time-consuming for an employer so it is important to obtain the appropriate level of workers’ compensation coverage.
There are several things that an employer can do to help minimize the number of workers’ compensation claims.
The Chicago workers’ compensation law firm of Ankin Law Offices, LLC is well-versed in all aspects of workers’ compensation laws. If you have any questions regarding workers’ compensation – whether you are an employer or an injured employee – contact one of our Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys to schedule a free consultation.