If you were hurt at work in Illinois, workers’ compensation pays your medical care and part of your lost wages. It is a no-fault system. You do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong. This page gathers every workers’ compensation guide on this site.
The system has strict steps. Report the injury to your employer within 45 days. Get medical treatment and tell the doctor it happened at work. File a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission within three years of the injury, or two years from the last benefit payment, whichever is later.
Benefits cover more than many workers realize. Medical care is paid in full with no copays. Temporary total disability pays two thirds of your average weekly wage while you cannot work. Permanent disability awards compensate lasting damage, and vocational rehabilitation can pay for retraining when you cannot return to your old job.
Insurers push back hardest on disputed body parts, repetitive trauma, and cases with prior injuries. Denied claims can be appealed and often are won. Some work injuries also support a separate lawsuit against a negligent third party, which pays damages workers’ comp does not. The guides below walk through each piece.
All Guides in This Section
Workers’ Compensation
- Workers’ Comp for Office and Remote Work Injuries in Illinois
- Denied Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois: What to Do Next
- Repetitive Stress Injuries and Workers’ Comp in Illinois
- How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois (Step-by-Step)
- Can You Sue Your Employer in Illinois? Workers’ Comp Exceptions Explained
- Temporary vs. Permanent Disability Benefits in Illinois Workers’ Comp
- Warehouse and Distribution Center Injuries in Chicago
- Third-Party Claims for Workplace Injuries in Chicago
- Workers’ Comp vs. Personal Injury: What’s the Difference?
- Construction Worker Injuries and Workers’ Comp in Chicago
- Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury: When You Can File Both in Illinois
Talk to a Chicago Injury Lawyer for Free
Phillips Law Offices handles work injury cases across Chicago and Illinois. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we win. Call (312) 346-4262 or contact us online. Our office is at 161 N Clark St Suite 4925, Chicago, IL 60601.
Attorney Advertising. This article provides general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case — speak to a licensed Illinois attorney about your situation. Contingency fees cover legal fees only. Clients may remain responsible for case costs and expenses such as filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical records; ask any firm to put its cost policy in writing.
You can also read about the attorneys who handle these cases.