Pursuing Compensation for Reduced Earning Capacity After a Work Accident

 Posted on August 14, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

Work accidents and injuries happen every day in the United States. Some are as minor as a skinned knee or bruise. Other work injuries lead to long-term or permanent impairment. In Illinois, workers’ compensation is required. Employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance which is used to reimburse injured employees for lost wages and medical bills.

If you were hurt in a work-related incident, it is important to know your rights. If your injuries have reduced your ability to work or forced you to take a lesser-paying position, you may be entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity.

Diminished Earning Capacity Caused by Serious Injury

Whether your profession involves physical labor, computer skills, or other abilities, a work injury can reduce your ability to perform your job. Many people who suffer serious work injuries cannot return to their previous line of work. Employers may be unable or unwilling to provide the accommodations and injured worker needs to perform his or her job adequately. Some injured workers must make a significant career change while others are forced to reduce the number of hours they work or take on fewer responsibilities. These changes can have a direct financial impact on the injured worker and his or her family.

Calculating Lost Earning Potential in a Workers’ Compensation Claim

You may be entitled to compensation for the income you will miss out on due to your work injury. Decreased earning capacity is usually calculated based on the type and severity of the injury, the worker’s wages before and after the injury, job skills and education, and other factors.

Unfortunately, many injured workers struggle to get the lost earning capacity compensation they need and deserve. The insurance company or even their own employer fights them every step of the way. They imply that the injury was not as severe as the employee claims or greatly underestimate the financial consequences the work injury had on the employee’s life. This is why it is so important to work with a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer from the beginning of the workers’ compensation process.

Contact a DuPage County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Help

Injured workers should focus on healing and recovery, not battling an insurance company. If you or a loved one were hurt on the job, contact a Wheaton workers’ compensation attorney at the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. to get the assistance you need. Mr. Clark is highly skilled in both personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He can stand up for your rights and help you pursue maximum compensation for your financial losses. Call 630-665-5678 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/Documents/handbook.pdf