Each year, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (the “Commission”) publishes detailed statistics on workplace injuries and injured workers’ claims for benefits. According to the Commission’s most-recent report published in 2017, “Each year in Illinois, approximately 200,000 work-related accidents occur . . . [However, fewer] than 45,000 claims are filed with the Commission.” This means that most workers’ compensation claims are resolved without the Commission’s involvement, although it also reflects the fact that many injured employees fail to claim the benefits they deserve. The Commission’s report includes some other notable data as well. Here are some of the most noteworthy statistics for injured workers in Chicago: 1. Close to 90 Percent of All Workers’ Compensation Claims Settle Of the approximately 45,000 workers’ compensation claims filed in Illinois each year, roughly 40,000 result in settlements, and just 5,000 result in denials at arbitration. In other words, even when an employer or its insurance company initially denies an employee’s claim, once the employee files a claim with the Commission, the employee still receives a settlement more than 88 percent of the time. 2. 50 Percent of Employees Who are Denied Benefits File an Appeal Approximately half of all employees who are denied benefits in arbitration file an appeal. Of these appeals, roughly 1,000 result in decisions, 400 result in settlements, and just 100 result in denials. 3. More than One Third of All Workers’ Compensation Claims are Filed in Chicago Of the approximately 45,000 workers’ compensation claims filed in Illinois each year, more […]
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