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Workers' Compensation

Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Sycamore

Representing Injured Workers in DeKalb County Since 1981

A workplace injury can upend everything: your income, your medical care, your sense of what comes next. When that happens, having a local attorney who knows DeKalb County and has practiced here for decades is not a small thing. Turner Law Group has represented injured workers in Sycamore and throughout Northern Illinois since 1981, with a local office in DeKalb County and attorneys who handle workers’ compensation claims from the initial filing through arbitration and appeal.

Rick Turner and Margie Komes Putzler work directly with clients. If your injury makes it difficult to travel, we can come to you.

Call us at (800) 653-0198 for a free consultation about your workers’ compensation claim. There’s no cost to speak with us, and no obligation to move forward until you’re ready.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Under Illinois Law

Illinois workers’ compensation operates on a no-fault basis. You don’t need to prove your employer was negligent, only that the injury occurred in the course of employment. That applies to sudden accidents and to occupational disease that develops over time.

Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, available benefits include:

  • Medical care: The employer pays for all reasonably required treatment. Under Illinois law, you have the right to choose your own treating physician, subject to the Workers’ Compensation Act’s two-doctor rule and any Preferred Provider Program your employer has established.
  • Temporary total disability (TTD): Wage replacement when an injury prevents you from working for a period of time.
  • Temporary partial disability (TPD): Partial wage replacement when you return to lighter duty at reduced pay.
  • Permanent partial disability (PPD): Compensation for lasting impairment, even if you return to work.
  • Permanent total disability (PTD): Benefits for workers who are permanently unable to return to any employment.
  • Death benefits: Compensation for surviving family members when a workplace injury is fatal.

Workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against an employer for a work-related injury. But if a third party’s negligence contributed to what happened, such as a negligent equipment manufacturer or a subcontractor on a job site, additional compensation may be available outside the workers’ comp system. We evaluate both avenues on every case.

Why Sycamore Workers Choose Turner Law Group

Employers and insurers have strong financial incentive to minimize valid workers’ compensation claims. You need advocates who know how to counter those tactics. Rick Turner and Margie Komes Putzler are both recognized by Super Lawyers for personal injury and workers’ compensation, and the firm holds membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Leading Lawyers, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Our documented results include a $4.25 million recovery in a product liability and construction injury case, along with multi-million-dollar recoveries in other serious injury matters. Past results don’t predict future outcomes, but they reflect how seriously we prepare every case.

What sets us apart in Sycamore is straightforward: we’ve been here since 1981, Rick and Margie handle your case personally, and we don’t stop at the easiest path to recovery. We pursue available sources of compensation on your behalf.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Process: What Sycamore Workers Need to Know

Filing a workers’ compensation claim involves specific steps and hard deadlines. Missing either can affect your right to benefits.

Notifying Your Employer

Illinois law requires you to notify your employer within 45 days of a workplace injury or the date a work-related illness becomes apparent. Written notice is preferable, but oral notice is legally acceptable. Don’t wait, even if your employer seems cooperative at first.

Filing with the IWCC

After notification, a formal claim is filed with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) by submitting an Application for Adjustment of Claim. The general deadline is three years from the date of the accident, or two years from the last compensation payment received, whichever is later. We handle this filing, monitor the case before the Commission, and represent clients through arbitration or appeal to the appellate court.

Independent Medical Examinations

Your employer has the right to require an independent medical examination (IME) by a physician of their choosing. IME doctors are retained by the employer or insurer, and their opinions frequently diverge from those of your treating physician. We help clients obtain impartial medical evaluations to counter IME findings that don’t reflect the actual severity of an injury.

Settlement & Maximum Medical Improvement

Claims aren’t resolved until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point at which further treatment is unlikely to provide additional benefit. Any settlement must be reviewed and approved by the IWCC. If a claim is disputed or denied, we can request an arbitration hearing before the Commission and, if necessary, pursue an appeal.

On attorney fees: Illinois law caps our fee at 20% of the settlement, paid at the close of the case. You pay nothing upfront.

Free Consultation for Sycamore & DeKalb County Workers

If you’ve been injured on the job in Sycamore or anywhere in DeKalb County, don’t navigate the workers’ compensation system alone. We’ve handled these claims throughout Northern Illinois for over four decades and know how employers and insurers operate when a claim is on the line.

If you can’t make it to our office, we can come to you. Call Turner Law Group at (800) 653-0198 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Real People, Real Results

Over Millions Recovered for Those Injured
  • $1.1 Million Auto Accident
  • $1.125 Million Auto Accident
  • $647,500 Auto Accident
  • $450,000 Auto Accident
  • $1.3 Million Auto Accident
  • $625,000 Auto Accident

Get Personalized Representation

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FAQs

Common Answers To Your Questions
  • What qualifies as a personal injury?

    A personal injury generally refers to any bodily injury sustained in an accident, from minor bruises to severe brain trauma. The most common personal injury claims arise from harm sustained from traffic wrecks, slip and fall accidents, defective products, dangerous property conditions, and medical malpractice.

  • What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Illinois?

    Under state law, the statute of limitations (or deadline) for most personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident. However, for claims against governmental agencies, there are special limitation periods that may be as short as a year. You should always consult with an attorney on what particular limitations period might apply to your claim. You should seek legal help immediately, as a delay may be fatal to your claim. Unless you have a special exception, your claim will be thrown out if you attempt to file after the limitations period has passed.


    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. Although personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range—there may be significant economic and noneconomic factors in your individual case that may indicate that your particular claim would be valued at a significantly higher figure at trial in front of a jury. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. The knowledge of an attorney experienced in jury verdict value is extremely important. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.
     

  • What evidence is needed for a personal injury claim?

    Necessary evidence can vary case by case depending on the specifics of your situation. However, one of the most helpful pieces of evidence is your medical records. If you can prove that you sought medical attention for a serious injury after an accident, you are more likely to receive compensation to cover the expenses associated with said injury. Other helpful evidence includes any photographs of the accident scene, accident reports, witness statements, insurance forms, receipts, and any other physical evidence related to the injury.

  • What is the average settlement for a personal injury?

    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. This means that personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.