Workers’ Compensation

Asian male worker accident at his leg at construction site. Industrial accident concept

Protecting Employees After Workplace Injuries

Attorney Greg Sronce helps injured worker's in Springfield, Illinois, understand their rights and secure the compensation they deserve after being hurt on the job.

What He Offers

Workplace Accident Claims

Representation for employees injured by unsafe conditions, ensuring they receive full benefits and medical support.

Denied Claim Appeals

Legal assistance for worker's whose claims have been rejected, helping them fight for fair reconsideration and proper coverage.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Guidance for employees suffering long-term injuries from repeated motions or strain, helping them receive necessary treatment and financial relief.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Support for worker's unable to return to their duties during recovery, securing rightful short-term wage replacement.

Permanent Disability Cases

Advocacy for employees whose injuries cause lasting limitations, ensuring fair settlements that protect their future.

Workers’ Compensation is a system designed to provide financial protection and medical care to employees who suffer job related injuries or illnesses. It is no-fault, meaning the worker doesn’t need to prove the employer did anything wrong only that the injury arose out of and in the course of employment.

Once a worker is hurt on the job, the employer (through their workers’ comp insurance) is required to pay for:

All reasonable medical care related to the injury;
Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits while the worker is unable to work; and
Permanent disability benefits if the injury results in lasting impairment.

These benefits are overseen by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), which functions like a specialized court system for these claims.

Types of Benefits Available

1. Medical Benefits

All reasonable and necessary medical care related to the work injury is covered; including doctor visits, surgeries, hospital stays, therapy, prescriptions, and even prosthetics or assistive devices.

The worker may choose two treating physicians (and any referrals from those doctors), and all related costs are paid directly by the employer or its insurer.

2. Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

3. Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

If the injury is so severe that the worker can never return to any kind of gainful employment, they are considered permanently and totally disabled.

Examples include:

Loss of both hands, feet, eyes, or any combination of two major body parts;
Injuries rendering the worker completely unemployable.

Benefit

The worker receives two-thirds of their average weekly wage for life, subject to minimum and maximum limits set by law.

These payments are tax-free, and in many cases, include annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

PTD essentially replaces a lifetime of lost earning capacity; it is one of the most significant awards available under Illinois workers’ comp law.

4. Wage Differential Benefits

Sometimes, an injured employee can return to work; but, only in a lower-paying job because of medical restrictions or reduced physical capacity.

In those situations, they are entitled to wage differential benefits under Section 8(d)(1) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.

Benefit:

The worker receives two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the difference between:

What they earned before the injury, and
What they can now earn after the injury.

These benefits continue until age 67 or for 5 years, whichever is later.

Example:

If a worker previously earned $1,000 per week but can now only earn $600 due to the injury, the wage differential benefit would be:

2/3 × ($1,000 - $600) = $266.67 per week

This helps bridge the gap between pre-injury and post-injury earnings.

5. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

If the worker suffers a permanent injury but can still work, they may qualify for PPD benefits under Section 8(d)(2).

PPD is based on the extent of permanent loss or impairment to a specific body part or to the body as a whole. Illinois law assigns each body part a specific number of weeks representing its value.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Schedule of Weeks

Body Part	Number of Weeks
Thumb	76 weeks
First (index) finger	43 weeks
Second (middle) finger	38 weeks
Third (ring) finger	27 weeks
Fourth (little) finger	22 weeks
Hand	205 weeks
Arm	253 weeks
Great (big) toe	38 weeks
Any other toe	13 weeks
Foot	167 weeks
Leg	215 weeks
Eye	162 weeks
Hearing (one ear)	54 weeks
Hearing (both ears)	215 weeks
Testicle (one)	54 weeks
Testicles (both)	162 weeks
Loss of bodily disfigurement (face, head, neck, visible scars, etc.)	Up to 162 weeks (determined by Commission)
Loss of use of body as a whole (non-scheduled injury)	500 weeks
Amputation above the elbow	Considered as loss of arm (253 weeks)
Amputation above the knee	Considered as loss of leg (215 weeks)
Shoulder (by case law, treated as part of arm)	253 weeks
Hip (by case law, treated as part of leg)	215 weeks

The formula is:

Average Weekly Wage × 60% × % of loss × number of weeks assigned to that body part.

Example:

If a worker earns $900 per week and loses 10% use of their arm:
$900 × 60% × 10% × 253 = $13,662
This benefit is typically paid in a lump sum.

Get Legal Help Today

Injured at work? Attorney Greg Sronce offers trusted, local support to help you file, appeal, or maximize your worker's compensation claim.

Request a Free Consultation