WORKERS COMPENSATION

The workers’ comp. system can be very complex and difficult to navigate if you have suffered a serious or catastrophic injury.  Also, insurance companies routinely deny legitimate workers’ compensation claims for a myriad of reasons with the hope that the injured worker will get discouraged and not pursue his or her claim.  That is why you need experienced workers’ comp. attorneys who will fight aggressively for you and are willing to litigate and not just settle your case for short money if necessary.

For the past 35 years Paul W. Grauer & Associates has aggressively represented their workers’ comp. clients.  They have tried hundreds of workers’ comp. cases at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, Woodstock and Winnebago counties to obtain their clients’ workers’ comp. benefits, including open medical benefits for life.  They have handled countless appeals.  They will fight tirelessly for their clients and do not cave in to the insurance companies.    

Serious and catastrophic work injuries will create huge financial problems for you and your family which will dramatically change your lives forever.  In Illinois, the employer or its insurance company is allowed to cut off your benefits without prior approval from anyone.  It can then take years for the Workers’ Compensation Commission and the appeal process to decide your case.  In the meantime, where do you turn?  At the very least you need an experienced and seasoned workers’ compensation trial attorney.   

Under the Illinois workers’ compensation system an injured worker is generally entitled to payment of his medical bills, two-thirds of his weekly pay, while he is off work recovering from his injury, and either a lump sum payment for the permanent injury or a weekly benefit for the remainder of the injured worker’s life depending on the seriousness of the injury.  In some circumstances, if you are unable to return to work as a result of your work injury you may be entitled to be retrained in a different occupation.  In other circumstances you may be entitled to benefit payments for the remainder of your life.

Also, serious and catastrophic work injuries often expose the worker to a lifetime of medical expenses and risk of future surgeries.  Ask yourself this.  “Who is going to pay for my second back surgery when my disk re-herniates after I’ve settled my case?”  Neither your employer, nor its insurance carrier will ever tell you how to keep “open medical” for life.  Why?  They do not want you to know that it’s your absolute right to keep your medical open for life.  You control this valuable right.  Only you can give it up!  Our law firm obtains this valuable benefit for many of our clients year after year.

It is important that you contact an experienced workers’ comp. attorney soon after your work injury to learn your rights and what you are entitled to so that the insurance company does not take advantage of you.  It does not cost you anything to learn your rights.  We offer a free initial consultation, and there are no fees paid unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Union Workers

When Union workers, including construction workers, tradesmen, heavy-equipment operators and meat cutters, are seriously or catastrophically injured, their injuries can turn out to be economically devastating and life changing.  In addition to the worker’s comp. claim, the worker could have a companion third-party claim.  Workers’ compensation benefits compensate Union workers for their hourly wages but do not take into account the worker’s additional Union benefits.  Often times the Union worker’s injury requires a job change, or the worker is unable to return to any type of gainful employment.  As a result, the worker now loses his Union benefits. 

Paul W. Grauer & Associates has been representing injured Union workers for over 35 years in their workers’ comp. claims and companion third-party cases.  We have obtained permanent total disability awards and wage differential awards for Union workers which include electricians, plumbers, iron workers, meat cutters, heavy-equipment operators, carpenters and truck drivers.

We will aggressively represent your rights so that you maximize your available benefits.  You should not rely on what the insurance adjusters tell you, they are employed by the insurance company and are looking out for the insurance company’s best interest and not yours.  We offer a free initial consultation, and there are no fees paid unless we obtain a recovery for you.

If you, a loved one or someone you know have suffered a serious or catastrophic injury, as a result of a worker’s comp. claim, you should call our office to determine your rights. 

Back & Neck Injuries

When a worker injures his back or neck in a work-related accident, many times the injury is so debilitating that the worker is unable to resume his usual job and must undergo job retraining which can be life altering for both the worker and his family.  In other circumstances, the worker may be unable to return to any type of work.  Any time a worker sustains a neck or back injury he should immediately retain an experienced workers’ comp. attorney to determine his rights.  He should not rely on what the insurance adjusters say. They are employed by the insurance company and are looking out for the insurance company’s best interest and not yours.

Paul W. Grauer & Associates has been representing injured workers for over 35 years.  We will aggressively represent your rights so that you maximize your available benefits.  We offer a free initial consultation, and there are no fees paid unless we obtain a recovery for you.

If you, a loved one or someone you know have suffered a serious injury, as a result of a repetitive injury, you should call our office to determine your rights.

Falls, Lifting, Repetitive Injuries, Traveling Employees >>