Will workers’ compensation cover me for work-related illness or injuries that aren’t the result of an accident?

Any work related illness or injury is covered under workers’ compensation benefits for employees. This includes occupational illnesses, as well as injuries that don’t occur from a traumatic event. Cumulative injuries, such as those that occur over time, qualify for workers’ comp.

Can I still receive workers’ compensation benefits if the accident was my fault?

Workers’ compensation insurance benefits fall under a no-fault system. In Illinois, workers qualify for benefits regardless of whether they were at fault for the accident. These benefits apply regardless of the employer’s fault as well.

Can I see my own doctor for workers’ comp?

In Illinois, injured workers have a right to choose their own doctor for the treatment of workplace injuries. However, employers may have a pre-selected pool of physicians, known as a “preferred provider program.” Employees can select two doctors within the PPP or one doctor outside the PPP when seeking treatment for their injuries. Additionally, workers’ comp benefits extend to any healthcare referrals made by an employee’s workers’ compensation doctor.

How are attorney fees paid in a personal injury claim?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Your attorney will not collect fees unless you win your case. These fees are usually discussed upfront and are calculated as a percentage of a victim’s damages award. Additional fees, such as filing fees or costs to retain an expert testimonial, may also be recovered from the plaintiff’s settlement award.

Is there a cap on personal injury damages in Illinois?

There is no current cap on damages in personal injury claims in Illinois. Previously determined caps on personal injury damages were ruled unconstitutional in Illinois in 2010. All decisions regarding damages awards are now left to judges and juries.

How much is my personal injury claim worth?

The value of your personal injury claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the amount of income you lost, and the extent of your pain and suffering. Victims can recover compensation for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and future expenses associated with the injury. A personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and help you determine its value.

How long do I have to file my Bloomington car accident lawsuit?

Car accident victims in Bloomington generally have a two-year deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is referred to as the statute of limitations, and it begins on the date of the accident. If an exception applies to your case, however, your deadline to file a lawsuit can be shorter or longer.

How much is my car accident claim worth?

The value of a car accident claim depends on the insurance coverages available, the severity of the victim’s injuries, and the percent of fault the victim carries. Damages in car accident claims are calculated by adding up the victim’s lost wages, medical expenses, and other expenses associated with the injury.

What happens if I was partially at fault for my car accident?

You can still recover compensation against the other party if you were partially at fault for your car accident. Illinois follows a comparative fault system, meaning an accident victim may be determined to be partially liable for his or her accident. However, as long as the victim’s percent of fault does not exceed 50%, he or she can still recover damages. His or her settlement award will be reduced by the percentage of fault he or she contributed.

What is the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident lawsuits in Bloomington?

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Bloomington, you generally have just two years to file an injury lawsuit and recover compensation. Since exceptions may apply to your case, and the time limit to file may be shorter, you should speak with a motor vehicle accident attorney in Bloomington.

I was in a motor vehicle accident while I was working. Can I still sue the at-fault driver?

If your motor vehicle accident was caused by someone else, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver, even if you were working when the crash occurred. A successful personal injury claim or lawsuit may increase your recovery amount, but you will need to prove fault to win your case.

If I file a motor vehicle accident claim, will I have to go to court?

Since more than 90% of personal injury claims are resolved through settlement agreements, the chances are slim that you will need to go to court if you file a motor vehicle accident claim. If the insurance company fails to offer you a reasonable settlement amount, however, your case could go to trial.

What should I do if I’ve been injured by a medical professional?

Patients injured by their doctors should seek alternative medical treatment to rectify their injuries. Once they suspect a healthcare provider committed malpractice, victims should gather evidence to support their claim. Then, they should contact a medical malpractice attorney to determine whether they have a claim against their healthcare provider.

Is there a difference between medical malpractice and negligence?

When a medical professional is aware, or should reasonably be aware, of the potential consequences of his or her actions and makes the mistake anyway, he or she has committed malpractice. When a medical professional makes a reasonable mistake that causes a patient to suffer, he or she has committed negligence.

How do I know if I have a legal claim for medical malpractice?

Any time a patient suffers damages at the hands of a medical provider that deviated from accepted treatment standards, he or she has grounds for a medical malpractice claim. This includes malpractice from a variety of healthcare professionals, including dentists, doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists. A medical malpractice attorney can review your case to help you determine whether you have a valid claim.

Personal Injury Lawyer Bloomington, IL

Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Bloomington?

Although most people and businesses in Bloomington, Illinois are kind, courteous, and honest, the same cannot always be said for the insurance companies that handle personal injury claims in our community. If you are injured by someone else’s negligence, and you file a personal injury, workers’ compensation, or medical malpractice claim to recover damages, you can expect to be met with a variety of challenges that are designed to make your recovery difficult.

Insurance companies who service our area are notorious for:

Minimizing injuries and losses
Disputing fault or liability
Unnecessarily delaying injury claims
Denying valid personal injury and workers’ compensation claims

With tactics like these, and experienced professionals working against you, it might be tempting to accept a settlement amount that is much lower than your case is worth. You might even consider abandoning your claim altogether.

Fortunately, our personal injury lawyers in Bloomington are here to level the playing field. Our decades of experience handling injury cases and civil lawsuits on behalf of Bloomington residents has enabled us to identify and counter the unscrupulous ways of insurance companies. As a result, our law firm can help you win up to three times more than you might recover if you handle your claim on your own.

What Are Your Chances of Needing a Personal Injury Lawyer in Bloomington?

With a population of approximately 77,000 residents, the violent crime rate in Bloomington, Illinois is 5.12 per 1,000 residents – just slightly higher than the national median rate. If you live, work, or play in Bloomington, you have a 1 in 195 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. While the city is safer than 29% of cities in the United States, adequate security is still a must for businesses. In 2019, 1 person was murdered, 54 were raped, 57 were robbed, and 284 were reportedly assaulted.

Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause of personal injury and death in Bloomington. While fatality crash rates are lower than those reported in Peoria, Springfield, and Chicago, accidents that cause serious injuries are alarmingly common. Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are often severely injured or killed when they fail to wear their seatbelts, especially when someone is speeding, driving distracted, operating a vehicle while impaired, or driving recklessly in a work zone.

The most dangerous intersection in Bloomington, with 18 accidents in 2019, was Empire Street and Veterans Parkway. Others include Morrissey Drive at Veterans Parkway, Oakland Avenue and Veterans Parkway, Clearwater Avenue and Veterans Parkway, and Washington Street at Veterans Parkway.

Types of Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Bloomington Handle

At Strong Law Offices, our personal injury lawyers in Bloomington handle the following types of cases. We are:

Bloomington Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Were you injured in a work-related accident in Bloomington, Illinois? You may be entitled to compensation to help you pay for your medical treatment and replace a portion of your lost wages. Whether you’re a healthcare worker who was injured while working at Carle BroMenn Medical Center or OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, a transportation worker who was in a work-related accident, or another type of worker who was hurt on the job, our Bloomington workers’ compensation lawyers can help ensure you receive fair compensation.

Bloomington Personal Injury Lawyers

The Bloomington personal injury lawyers at Strong Law Offices handle a wide range of cases that arise from accidents in our community. If you were injured in a slip and fall, hurt in an animal attack, or harmed by a defective product, we can help. Our law firm will determine the value of your personal injury claim, identify liable parties, and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering on your behalf.

Bloomington Car Accident Lawyers

Did you suffer injuries in a crash in Bloomington? Whether your collision was caused by a drugged or drunk driver, distracted driving, or another careless driving behavior, our law firm will make sure the at-fault party is held accountable for your losses. Our Bloomington car accident lawyers can help you file a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company to recover compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, physical pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.

Bloomington Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys

If a motor vehicle crash caused you harm in Bloomington, Illinois, you may be able to sue an at-fault driver, a vehicle or parts manufacturer, a trucking company, or another third party who contributed to your accident. When you hire our Bloomington motor vehicle accident attorneys to handle your case, we will identify all sources of recovery to maximize the compensation you receive.

Bloomington Medical Malpractice Attorneys

At Strong Law Offices, our Bloomington medical malpractice attorneys are not afraid to stand up for patients when doctors, nurses, or hospitals cause them harm. If a healthcare provider’s negligence caused you to suffer injuries, your condition to worsen, or the death of your loved one, our law firm can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Additional Areas of Practice

Car Accidents Truck Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Taxi Accidents Train Accidents Boat Accidents Spinal Cord Injuries Brain Injuries Amputations Burn Injuries Disfigurement Swimming Pool Accidents Paralysis Slip and Fall Accidents Wrongful death

About Bloomington, Illinois

Located in the heart of Central Illinois, Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County. The city is host to a variety of cultural and entertainment options including, but not limited to: performing arts, theaters, festivals, art galleries, and even a candy factory. It is the only place in the world where beer nuts are manufactured. A booming college town, Bloomington is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University.

With its world headquarters located in the city, State Farm Insurance Company is the top employer in Bloomington, Illinois. Other top employers include electric car manufacturer Rivian, and Country Financial.

The major medical facilities in Bloomington-Normal are BroMenn Healthcare, and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

The McLean County Fair, often referred to as the “World’s Largest County 4-H Fair,” takes place every August in Bloomington.
Apart from Bloomington, our law firm also has offices in Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, and Chicago.