The Illinois Worker's Compensation Act contains protection for
workers who are fired for reporting work place accidents. Without the
protection of the Act, you allow your employer and the insurance company
to make decisions about where you get medical care, when, and how often,
and you have no one who can advocate for you. Unfortunately, many
employers and insurance adjusters care more about their bottom line than
your pain, your future, your family's well-being and your past loyalty to the
company. I know this because, for years, I was a trial attorney defending the
world's largest insurance company from employee workers' compensation
claims across the state of Illinois. That means I worked to save the insurance
companies as much money as possible at every stage of worker's
compensation litigation.
The pay and benefits of being a trial attorney for the insurance company were great, and I did the job well, but in my heart, I knew I belonged on the other side of the aisle, defending the injured little guy against the Goliath insurance companies. I decided I would take everything I learned about big insurance and the tactics they use to minimize the value of an injured worker's claim, and put all of that to work for the hard working men and women of the Illinois Valley, where I was born and raised.
As an injured worker, the best thing you can do is immediately schedule a free, confidential and no obligation consultation to learn more about the Illinois Worker's Compensation system and how we can use the law to protect you, your job and your health, and your financial future. The sooner you meet with an experienced worker's compensation attorney, the better so you can get all the facts to make the best decision for your circumstances. If you are still working, you don't have to take time off of work to meet with me because you have better ways to use personal days off of work. I can schedule appointments during evenings, early mornings, or weekends to accommodate your busy schedule.
Injured workers deserve the best medical care and compassion, but they rarely get that from their employers. Employers are increasingly suspicious of work place injuries. Often, when your employer finds out you are injured at work, they demand you take a drug test, and pressure you to treat only with "their" work doctors, who seem to care more about returning you to work and keeping your company happy than you and your injuries. The insurance adjusters often behave like bullies, and make it seem that you should be grateful that they are paying for any medical treatment of your injury at all. The Illinois Worker's Compensation Act protects your right to choose your medical providers, and states that the employer or their insurance company must pay for that care of your work injury, even if it isn't from a doctor of their choosing. There are limits to how many doctors you can select, and there are rules about when you have to submit to examination by a company doctor or a specialist of their choosing, and I can explain that to you so you know what to expect for treatment of your work injury.
Often, injured workers don't know many specialists so they aren't sure with whom they should treat, but it does make a difference. Because we've helped so many individuals over the years, and had the benefit of their feedback about which doctors were caring and helpful, and which ones were less so, we are happy to help you find a specialist who will be best suited to help you on the road to recovery. We can also explain the role of the nurse case manager to prevent interference with your doctor's medical decisions.
When you are off work because of being hurt from a work injury, you are entitled to
disability pay. Often insurance companies miscalculate these benefits, or try to
withhold or delay pay benefits unfairly. Attorney Alissa Gearhart will use the Illinois
Worker's Compensation Act to ensure you are protected against these and other
insurance company tactics because we know that a delay in your pay can put you
behind in paying your mortgage, your rent, and bills, buying groceries and daycare
for your kids, hurt your credit, and cause you and your loved ones sleepless nights,
and undue stress in your household. You may need assistance with a child support
problem if you cannot send payments because the insurance company is delaying
your pay. Where necessary, we will seek penalties and sanctions against insurance companies who do not treat our injured clients properly, and we will fight to get you everything you deserve.
There are time limits that prevent you from obtaining the protections of the Illinois Worker's Compensation Act if you wait too long to speak up or make your claim, and each decision you make without an experienced advocate can impact your case. Come in and see me for a free and confidential consultation, and find out what I can do for you. There is no obligation, and if you decide you want me to be your lawyer, you pay no attorney fees until your case is done.
At THE LAW OFFICE OF ALISSA L. GEARHART, we have the skills you need
to effectively and vigorously defend you with the personalized service you cannot
get at a big firm. Call or email to set up a no risk, confidential appointment to get your questions answered by a skilled worker's compensation attorney.
(c) The Law Office of Alissa L. Gearhart, 2017
HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED AT WORK and NEED A LAWYER WHO WILL FIGHT FOR YOU?
LOOK NO FURTHER: I am a real trial attorney.
I enjoy using the law to protect workers like you
from the big insurance companies who want to cut your benefits
and make your claim go away dirt cheap.
I used to be the trial counsel for one of the largest insurance companies in the world, so I know the obstacles big insurance uses to slow down or stop workers from getting everything they are due.
I want to help you succeed in getting all the medical care you need from the best medical professionals available, and I want to get you every dollar
of settlement money you deserve.
- ARE YOU AFRAID TO TELL YOUR BOSS ABOUT YOUR INJURY FOR FEAR OF BEING FIRED?
- SINCE YOUR ACCIDENT, HAS YOUR BOSS STARTED TREATING YOU DIFFERENTLY ...
- Withholding overtime assignments?
- Changing your shifts?
- Trying to get you to exceed the restrictions your doctor gave you?
- Writing you up?
- Talking negatively about you to your co-workers?
- Changing your work assignments in ways that having nothing to do with accommodating your injury?
- Withholding overtime assignments?
- IS THE INSURANCE COMPANY IGNORING YOUR NEEDS...
- by delaying approval for medical visits and temporary pay?
- by asking you for more information, but not giving you any definite information?
- Making excuses why things aren't done or dodging your calls?
- Telling you that you have to do what they say, or they will cut your benefits?
- by delaying approval for medical visits and temporary pay?
- ARE YOU GETTING THE RIGHT MEDICAL CARE TO ADDRESS YOUR INJURIES?
- Have you had competent medical testing you need to determine the extent of your physical injuries?
- Are you stuck getting physical therapy, and pills and injections instead of proper testing and surgery?
- Have you seen a specialist not working for the insurance company?
- Has anyone asked if you are dealing with depression or anxiety since your work accident?
- Have you had competent medical testing you need to determine the extent of your physical injuries?
- ARE YOU PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR DOCTOR VISITS AND MEDICINE?
- ARE YOU COMMUTING LONG DISTANCES TO DOCTORS?
- ARE YOU NEEDING A SECOND OPINION ABOUT YOUR CASE?
FIND OUT HOW I CAN USE THE LAW TO PROTECT YOU, YOUR JOB, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR BENEFITS FROM THE BULLY TACTICS EMPLOYED BY BIG INSURANCE.
Contact Alissa L. Gearhart Today, at 815-534-9220 for your FREE consultation.
We provide services to all of La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, Lee, Grundy, Peoria, Will, Stark, McLean, Winnebago and Bureau counties. Princeton, La Salle, Peoria, Peru, Oglesby, Ottawa, Mendota, Streator, Bloomington, Kewanee, Rockford, Rock Island, Springfield, Moline, Morris, Compton, Cornell, Henry, Manlius, Ohio, Seneca, Sheridan, Spring Valley, Toluca, El Paso, Kappa, Minonk, Wenona, Granville, Hennepin, Standard, Ophir, Deer Park, Ladd, Cherry, Sterling, Dixon, Rock Falls, Rochelle, Yorkville, New Lenox, Oswego, Aurora, Fox Valley, Naperville, Sandwich, Plano, Paw Paw, DePue.