Chicago Workers’ Comp Attorneys For Career-Ending Injuries

Last updated on September 27, 2024

When a person suffers an injury that permanently prevents them from returning to their trade, it is considered a career-ending injury. At Anesi Ozmon, LTD, we take great pride in the number of successful outcomes we have achieved for clients in this area. Our work has resulted in dozens of awards of lifetime weekly payments for clients suffering career-ending injuries, including union tradesmen. At a time when your future may seem uncertain, seek legal guidance from a law firm with a proven track record.

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If you are dealing with an injury like this, there is no time to lose. Call 312-997-5784 today to speak to our Chicago career-ending injury attorneys.

What Injuries Are Considered Career-Ending?

Career-ending injuries encompass a wide range of conditions, varying significantly depending on the individual’s trade. While injuries like traumatic brain injuries and severe spinal cord injuries are universally recognized as life-changing, what qualifies as career-ending can be more nuanced.

For instance, an ironworker or a construction worker who relies heavily on the use of their hands might find that serious wrist or arm injuries effectively end their career, even though they could technically perform other types of work. The key factor is whether the injury prevents the person from continuing in their specific trade, requiring them to seek new employment that may involve substantial vocational training. Examples of career-ending injuries include not only physical impairments but also psychological conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that could prevent a person from returning to their high-risk occupation.

It’s important to note that a career-ending injury does not necessarily mean the individual cannot work at all. Rather, it means they cannot return to their chosen profession without risking further harm or because they can no longer perform the duties required. In such cases, workers may need to explore alternative career paths, which can be challenging, especially if they require new skills or certifications.

Career-Ending Injuries And Return To Work Disputes

Disputes often arise between injured workers and insurance companies regarding whether an injury is truly career-ending. Insurance companies might argue that an employee is still capable of working in their previous role or in a modified capacity, leading to contentious disagreements. To prove that an injury is career-ending, it must be shown that the worker is unable to perform the essential functions of their trade, even with reasonable accommodations or medical treatment.

At Anesi Ozmon, LTD, we understand the intricacies of workers’ compensation laws in Illinois and are skilled in gathering the necessary medical evidence and testimony to support our clients’ claims. Our experience in handling career-ending injury cases allows us to anticipate the strategies insurance companies might use to challenge our clients’ claims and effectively counter them, making sure our clients’ futures are protected.

Workers’ Compensation Representation Throughout Illinois

Many clients of Anesi Ozmon, LTD, enjoy lifetime medical coverage for their career-ending injuries, in addition to their weekly workers’ compensation benefits. Even if you are able to work at a different job and your pay is less than what you were making prior to your injury, you are likely entitled to benefits.

Below are brief summaries of career-ending injury cases that we have handled for past clients:

• $1,750,000 settlement for an ironworker who suffered fractures to both wrists in a fall, a career-ending injury.
• $500,000 award for an ironworker who suffered a second career-ending injury in the same occupation, which involved defending in the Appellate Court against an employer’s appeal of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission’s original decision in favor of our client.
• $550,000 settlement for Local 1 ironworker who suffered a career-ending injury.
• $490,000 settlement for Local 1 ironworker who suffered a career-ending injury.

Successfully arguing a claim for wage differential payments based on a worker’s advanced training and completed testing, our attorneys secured a journeyman’s higher rate of pay for an injured worker who was an apprentice at the same time he suffered the career-ending injury.

FREE CONSULTATION:
If you suspect that you or a loved one has sustained a career-ending injury in the Chicagoland area, contact our attorneys. Call 312-997-5784 or contact our lawyers online today.