Workers' Compensation

Illinois and Missouri Workers' Compensation Claims

Most people fail to understand what they must do after a work-related injury. If you have been injured while working, you need to adhere to time-sensitive legal requirements, or you could jeopardize your chances of obtaining compensation for these injuries. No matter what you believe your chances of success may be, if you have been hurt at work, you should consult with an experienced lawyer who will objectively review your claim.

The workers' compensation attorneys of Bonifield & Rosenstengel have more than 35 years of legal experience and devote their entire legal practice to serving injured people and their families. At our law firm, we focus on getting clients financial support from their employer's workers' compensation insurance.

Filing for workers' compensation can be a confusing process. Protect your chances of recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation. From our office in Belleville, Illinois, we represent injured workers throughout central and southern Illinois, as well as St. Louis, Missouri.

We have extensive experience handling all types of workplace injuries, including back and neck injuries, as well as arm, wrist and hand injuries. We understand the restrictions that these injuries can place on your future career prospects.

Disability and Workers' Compensation

Worker's compensation includes several different types of benefits that an injured worker may pursue:

• Temporary total or temporary partial wage loss benefits: If a work injury keeps you from working, you may be eligible for weekly compensation until you can return to work.
• Permanent total or partial disability benefits: These benefits are available to employees who are injured while on the job and have a permanent partial disability, and to workers whose disability prevents them from returning to gainful employment.
• Medical benefits: You may be eligible to receive compensation for medical bills arising from treatment that is reasonable, necessary, and related to an on-the-job accident.
• Wage differential benefits: These work comp benefits are payable if you are unable to return to work at your previous job, or have physical restrictions which affect your earnings following a work accident. If your work injury causes you to earn less money than before, you may be entitled to receive up to two-thirds of the difference between your current income and the income you would have earned had you remained employed in the job you had at the time of the accident.
• Vocational rehabilitation: If you are unable to return to suitable work, you may be entitled to professional vocational rehabilitation services. These services can include help finding a job and education or training designed to allow you to return to work at a wage as close as possible to your wage at the time of the injury.

Maximizing Workers' Comp and SSDI Benefits for Disabled Employees

In some instances, you may be able to obtain both workers' compensation benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits after if you are disabled after a work injury. However, there are consequences.

Workers' compensation can dramatically affect the amount of SSDI benefits you receive. We understand the relationship between these two types of benefits and we will help you maximize the benefits you receive.

When Employers Try to Cause Problems

Sometimes, an employer may try to intimidate a worker into not filing a workers' compensation claim. In other cases, an employer may try and force a worker to return to work before he or she is physically ready.

In each instance, we can put employers on notice and let them know they are financially and legally liable for retaliatory acts directed towards employees who are simply exercising their legal rights.

At Bonifield & Rosenstengel, we represent injured clients in workman's comp claims. Contact us for a free initial consultation about your case.