After suffering a serious personal injury, your first concern will typically be the need to obtain appropriate medical treatment for the injuries. When this happens, who will be responsible for paying the medical bills for related treatment? Keep reading to learn more...
One of the primary benefits of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act is the requirement that the employer pay for all reasonable and related medical expenses. An injured worker should not have to pay a dime out of their own pocket for related treatment....
Recently, a bill was introduced by Representative Kam Buckner which could provide a tremendous impact for firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Keep reading to learn more from top...
The question that our attorneys get most often is about the potential value of an injured client’s case. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to determine the amount of recovery available, and many factors need to be taken into a consideration. Keep reading to...
We are proud to announce that for the ninth time, and for the eighth consecutive year, Attorney Brent Eames has been recognized as one of the best personal injury lawyers in the State of Illinois by the Super Lawyers publication. No more than...
A very common question which comes up in our practice is what happens when Medicare benefits overlap with a workers' compensation claim? As is anything which involves the Federal government, it can get quite complicated! This is especially true of you end up receiving...
If you are injured as a result of a work-related injury, and you are unable to work, you should be entitled to Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD). These TTD benefits are designed to compensate injured workers for lost wages if they are temporarily unable to...
A common question which we frequently receive from our firefighter and police officer clients is when would be the best time to apply for a disability pension? The answer will often vary on a case-by-case basis. However, there is one important piece of advice which we...
During the winter months, instances of slip-and-falls increase drastically due to the accumulation of snow and ice. However, slip-and-fall accidents are not limited to outdoors. People frequently slip on wet floors, trash, food items, and papers inside of stores,...
Are you looking for a chance to give back this holiday season and contribute to a wonderful cause? This year, Eames Law Group will be conducting a holiday toy drive to support the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. This is a not-for-profit organization that assists...
Social security disability benefits are provided by the federal government to qualifying individuals who are disabled from working. These benefits can overlap with other recoveries for disabling injuries, including claims for workers' compensation, as well as claims...
We receive many calls from injured workers who are concerned that they cannot receive any workers' compensation benefits if they caused or contributed to their own injuries due to a mistake they made during work. If an injured worker caused their own injury due to...
The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (820 ILCS 320/1) is an Illinois law which provides for the payment of the full premium of an employer’s health insurance plan for firefighters and police officers who suffer catastrophic injuries or are killed in the line of...
Car accidents occur across Illinois on a daily basis. With about 6 million car accidents a year, it should come as no surprise that insurance companies have a game plan and know exactly what to do to attempt to obstruct and withhold fair payments from injured...
One of the core purposes of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act is to compensate injured workers for the loss of income caused by a work-related injury or illness. When it comes to settling cases, much of the focus will be on permanent work restrictions, and future...
One of the most common questions we receive from our clients pertains to their potential ability to quit their job during the pendency of a workers' compensation claim. Although work injuries are extremely common, and getting hurt at work should not have any impact on...
Suffering an injury as a result of somebody’s negligence often necessitates medical treatment which requires time and financial resources. That can be hard enough. However, things can be ever harder when the injuries sustained require innocent victims to miss work....
Attorney Brent Eames was recently invited to serve as a guest lecturer at Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology to speak to students regarding occupational injuries and illnesses, as well as the Illinois workers' compensation...
The law limits the legal rights of minors in a variety of ways. Children under eighteen generally have no legal standing to act on their own behalf in legal settings. Of course, kids are not immune from getting injured, and are routinely the victims of negligence...
When one suffers an injury at work that arises out of and in the course of employment and provides proper notice to the employer within the statutory allowed time limit, such an employee may qualify for benefits under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act. However,...
We are happy to welcome Yesenia Velez as the newest member of our team at Eames Law Group, Ltd. Yesenia is our new paralegal, and she will be providing assistance for both personal injury and workers' compensation claims. Yesenia is fluent in Spanish, and she brings a...
If you were injured on the job, a variety of benefits may be available to help you recover. You are entitled to benefits that pay for your reasonable and related medical care. You are also entitled to disability benefits while you recover from your injury and are...
If you suffer a slip and fall injury while working on a construction site, you should of course be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, unlike most employees across Illinois, your recovery may not be restricted to the amounts allowed by workers’...
Article 3 of the Illinois Pension Code governs the benefits available to police officers serving in municipalities with more than 5,000 but less than 500,000 residents. Article 3 defines the benefits available to police officers upon retirement, disability, or death....
As our law firm continues to grow, we are in need of more space to better serve our clients and make things more comfortable for our wonderful team. So, we are happy to share that we are relocating our office space! However, we love the South Loop and Dearborn Station...
Attorney Brent Eames is a long-standing member of the Workers' Compensation Section Council for the Illinois State Bar Association. He has served as a frequent lecturer for the ISBA on topics such as trial techniques for practicing before the Illinois Workers'...
After suffering a work-related injury, it is not uncommon for employees to be unable or unwilling to return to their prior duties as a result of physical limitations issued by medical providers, due to a deteriorated relationship with an employer, or for some other...
This month, we are happy to highlight the wonderful work that Attorney Olga Beznashchuk has been doing in our community on behalf of neighbors in need. For many months, there were discussions about the possibility of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, many people...
We frequently receive calls from concerned workers who have been told by the insurance companies which are handling their workers' compensation claims that the claims are now "over," and their cases have been "closed." These injured workers are told that no more...
Dog bites and other animal attacks are very common in Illinois. Given the large number of animals in our society, it should come as no surprise that accidents and animal attacks are not a rare occurrence. Many people contact our office after suffering an animal attack...
How often have you signed a stack of legal documents on behalf of your child in order to enroll them in an activity, or gain admittance into an amusement park? In modern times, this practice is becoming standard. Frequently, these documents are presented to us in...
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether an employer is legally allowed to fire an injured worker as a result of filing a claim for workers' compensation benefits. Keep reading to learn more about this complicated topic, and what top Chicago injury...
Recently, top Chicago work comp attorney, Brent Eames, secured a victory at trial on behalf of an injured client after her employer refused to authorize proposed medical treatment or pay for ongoing temporary total disability benefits. Our client injured her left arm...
Recently, top Chicago work comp attorney, Brent Eames, secured a victory at trial on behalf of an injured truck driver after his employer disputed the circumstances of his work accident, and refused to pay any owed workers' compensation benefits. Our client injured...
As we previously reported, Attorney Brent Eames was retained to represent seven disabled police officers from the City of North Chicago after the City filed a motion with the pension board to revoke all of their pensions due to their alleged failure to respond to...
Within the past few decades, arbitration has become a prevalent method of resolving disputes between parties across all forms of litigation. Often times, people enter into mandatory arbitration agreements without even knowing or understanding what they are...
On February 21, 2022, Attorney Brent Eames of Eames Law Group, Ltd. was chosen to serve as a speaker at the Illinois State Bar Association's Spring seminar. These seminars are designed to teach workers’ compensation practitioners and labor/employment attorneys a...
Recently, Brent Eames secured a victory at trial on behalf of an injured restaurant worker who suffered a serious spinal injury as a result of a slip-and-fall accident at work. Shortly after her accident, her employer terminated her employment after she allegedly...
When tragedy strikes, and a loved one loses their life, it will have a devastating impact on a family. When a personal injury results in death, the law in Illinois can allow the loved ones of the deceased to seek damages against the responsible persons and entities...
We are proud to announce that for the eighth time, Attorney Brent Eames has been recognized as one of the best personal injury lawyers in the State of Illinois by the Super Lawyers publication. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the State of Illinois are recognized as...
Section 6(f) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act is intended to provide some special and unique benefits for firefighters and EMTs who suffer certain injuries and illnesses. Unfortunately, ambiguity in the language of the statute has resulted in the Illinois...
The Illinois Line of Duty Compensation Act is an Illinois law which is designed to provide the payment of benefits to the beneficiaries of a deceased first responder who was killed in the line of duty. Section 3 of the Act provides for the payment of death benefits to...
Modern technology makes our daily lives so much easier. We can attend work or school from the comfort of our home by using a laptop or a desktop computer. We can send e-mails, participate in videoconferences, and pay at the grocery stores with our phones. And of...
Being able to contribute to the development of her community was one of the reasons Olga Beznashchuk became an attorney. This weekend, Olga will participate in a legal question-and-answer session organized by the Selfreliance Association of Chicago. The Selfrelaince...
Awards of permanent total disability are the largest which the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act can provide. If you are found to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of a work injury, you will be entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly...
In order to qualify for benefits under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act, generally, an injured employee need only prove that the injury arose out of and in the course of their employment. However, if the injured worker fails a drug test after the accident, it...
One of the most common questions that we receive from our clients is regarding what is required when it comes to reporting a work accident or injury to their employer. Although the requirements of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act are relatively lax with regard...
If a person is injured as a result of someone else's actions or inaction, said person can pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party. If victorious, the Plaintiff will be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages sustained as a...
This month, we are happy to welcome Olga Beznashchuk to Eames Law Group, Ltd as our new associate attorney! Prior to joining our law practice, Olga was employed by Farmers Insurance. After working for Farmers, Olga worked for another insurance company in Mount...
Technology seems to be advancing on a daily basis across the country. Whether it’s higher powered cameras or GPS tracking technology, it is becoming nearly impossible for people to stay completely off the grid. It should come as no surprise that when...
It is becoming more and more common for employers in many industries to actively encourage their employees to exercise and stay physically fit and active. Studies have indicated that physically active employees are generally less stressed, and demonstrate better...
Hit-and-run accidents are on the rise during recent years, and according to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a hit-and-run happens in the U.S. every 43 seconds. Unfortunately, in Illinois many people become victims of hit-and-run drivers annually. Just this past...
Firefighter injury attorney, Brent Eames, recently wrote about the passage of House Bill 3662 in the Illinois Senate, which was intended to create a “rebuttable presumption” with respect to firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who contract...
Nobody ever plans on getting injured while performing their work duties, but unfortunately, work accidents happen daily and affect workers laboring in almost every industry. If your injury arose out of and in the course of your employment, and you are temporarily...
When you think of Labor Day, what comes to mind? For many people, we think of BBQ, the unofficial end of the summer season, and a random Monday off of work resulting in a three day weekend. However, the history of Labor Day should be of great significance in the...
If you were injured in a car accident, you may be feeling confused and unsure of your next steps. Who is responsible for the pain and suffering? Who will pay for your medical bills? These questions can be complicated, and they can be even more complex when a...
Recently, the First District Appellate Court issued a decision which could have a catastrophic impact on firefighters and police officers who suffer injuries in the line of duty. Illinois attorney for first responders, Brent Eames, has summarized the recent...
When processing a workers’ compensation claim, both the employee and employer hold general responsibilities that must be followed in order to ensure that the claim proceeds appropriately. Unfortunately, you often will not have time to speak with a Chicago work...
Whenever you go to a baseball game, or any other professional sports game, your ticket will contain a lot of fine print which contains many confusing terms and conditions. It should come as no surprise that often times, that ticket can contain some pretty unfavorable...
On May 28, 2021, the Illinois Senate passed House Bill 3662 in an effort to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to create a “rebuttable presumption” with respect to firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who contract methicillin-resistant staphylococcus...
Having a car accident is not usually a pleasant experience. Everyone is at risk of getting into a fender bender, including the best drivers. However, to prevent any legal troubles it is important to know what to do if you get into a car accident in Illinois. It's best...
A new law has gone into effect in Illinois which will provide 6% interest to injured Plaintiffs who are victorious at trial after having a settlement demand rejected by a Defendant. From the time that a lawsuit is filed, the Plaintiff will be entitled to interest...
Car accidents cause pain and trauma, and cost money. When you're involved in a car accident, you just want the subsequent problems to go away. You want your whiplash, your constant headaches, the medical bills, and the memories of the day to...
The Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA), codified under 5 ILCS 345/, is an Illinois law that provides financial assistance to first responders and other qualified employees, such as correctional officers, who get injured in the line of duty. Although first...
Illinois motorcyclists are involved in around 3,400 crashes each year. These accidents can be devastating and they can leave motorcyclists buried under a mountain of paperwork, bills and confusion. That's where a motorcycle accident attorney can come...
Car accidents come out of nowhere and leave those involved shaken and reeling with questions about what to do. If you were injured in a car accident, you may be feeling even more unsure of your next steps. How do you determine who is at fault for the accident?...
Our client was working as a packer for Amazon when she suffered an injury to her lower back as a result bending, lifting, and twisting on the line. After conservative treatment failed to resolve her pain, she was recommended to undergo a spinal fusion surgery by her...
Have you been in an accident with a semi-truck? Driving a truck is one of the more difficult jobs out there. On top of being able to drive a massive and complex vehicle in all sorts of tight scenarios, they're responsible for transporting valuable cargo and hitting...
Motorcycle ownership is at an all-time high in America. With more bikers on the road, though, there's also been an increase in motorcycle accidents. If you've been in a crash, you're likely wondering what your claim is worth. How much is a good settlement...
Car accidents in work zones occur daily, and claim the lives of far too many construction workers and drivers across America. In fact, a person is killed in a work zone accident every 15 hours nationwide! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics more than 1800...
In 2019, there were 2.8 million nonfatal workers' comp cases in the US. Construction accidents alone account for approximately 250 workers' comp incidents per 10,000 full-time workers. This number of workplace injuries and illnesses is why 90%...
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are around 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses each year in the U.S. The aftermath of workplace accidents can be stressful and frustrating, especially when you consider the intricacies of...
Each year, American workers suffer nearly three million nonfatal workplace injuries. These incidents can be devastating. They rob families of income, result in enormous medical bills, and can upend people's lives. Workers' compensation should be the...
The worker's compensation insurance industry is worth a staggering $56.8 billion as of this year. Accidents at work are far-too-common, but are employees really getting what they deserve? Most employees do not foresee an injury happening at work, not...
As of August 2020, the Illinois legislature passed an amendment to the Public Employee Disability Act (“PEDA”) as a result of the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Under PEDA, public employees are guaranteed financial protection of up to 365 days of full pay if injured in...
This month, the Third District Appellate Court handed an enormous victory to injured first responders all across the State of Illinois by striking down the PSEBA ordinance of the City of Peoria which attempted to make it much more challenging for its injured employees...
With about 6 million car accidents a year, it's essential to know what to do if you find yourself in this unfortunate scenario. Don't wait until a collision occurs to figure out what to do next; it'll be a lot more complicated since you'll be...
Have you recently suffered an injury on the job? Do you wonder how long it would take to reach favorable workers' comp settlement amounts for your accident? If so, then you need to learn more about the overall process regarding workers' compensation settlements. The...
As we previously reported, Attorney Brent Eames was retained to represent seven disabled police officers from the City of North Chicago after the City attempted to recall them all to active duty as a result of an alleged emergency which resulted from what was claimed...
As we have previously reported, last year, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law an expansion of the benefits afforded to injured first responders and front line workers under the the Workers’ Compensation Act. This amendment created a presumption in favor of...
Every day, 14 construction workers in the United States die, on average. A third of these deaths are falls, more than any other category of injury in construction accidents. As we head into the winter months, workers should be aware of the dangers on job...
If you were recently involved in a workplace accident that led to an injury, then you're probably asking yourself several questions. What should I expect from this process? How long will it take to complete? Can I return to work after a workers' comp settlement?...
We are proud to announce that the the publication Expertise has ranked Eames Law Group, Ltd. as one of the top 32 personal injury attorneys in Chicago for 2020. After scoring 1,993 different law firms across the City of Chicago on more than 25 variables across five...
Chicago personal injury attorney Brent Eames has settled a Cook County lawsuit against a Logan Square bar for selling alcohol to a drunk driver who struck our client with his automobile, causing serious injuries. Our client was standing on a sidewalk with a...
The average cost for a worker's compensation claim is just over $41,000. The compensation varies, depending on the type of injury sustained. Even without injuries, 83% of United States workers suffer from work-related stress. Not being able to work due...
Workplace injuries happen every seven seconds. That is equivalent to 12,900 every day, which adds up to about 4.6 million workplace injuries every single year. Your employer has a responsibility to provide safe working conditions for you while you are...
This week, Illinois workers' compensation attorney Brent Eames secured another victory at trial against an employer who refused to pay for related medical treatment for its injured employee after she suffered a work-related accident. Our office represents an injured...
When tragedy strikes, and a first responder dies or becomes permanently disabled, it is crucial to make sure that your loved ones are taken care of now, and into the future after you are gone. While line of duty disability pensions under Article III and Article IV of...
What happens after a work-related injury when you are released from medical care with permanent restrictions which prevent you from being able to return to work in any capacity? You might be a candidate for an award of permanent total disability benefits...
This past week, personal injury attorney Brent Eames settled a lawsuit filed in LaSalle County, Illinois on behalf of a client who suffered a serious knee injury as a result of an off-leash dog running and colliding with her lower extremities. Suit was filed against...
Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law an expansion of the benefits afforded to injured first responders and correctional officers under the Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA). As of today, section (b-5) of PEDA has been amended so that any eligible...
During the month of June 2020, we celebrated our two year anniversary of Eames Law Group, Ltd. in a big way by securing over $1,000,000.00 in settlements and recoveries on behalf of our injured clients over the course of the single month. These recoveries...
As we recently discussed on this blog, on April 13, 2020, the Rules of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission were amended by the approval of an EMERGENCY RULE specifically to benefit first responders and other front line workers. This emergency rule amendment...
We are happy to report another hard-fought victory at trial for one of our clients. Our office recently filed a work comp claim for a client who suffered a slip-and-fall injury in a parking lot next to her workplace while returning to work from a lunch break. After...
BREAKING: On April 13, 2020, the Rules of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission were amended by the approval of an EMERGENCY RULE specifically to benefit first responders and other front line workers. This emergency rule amendment provides that any claim...
We are happy to report another hard-fought victory before the Workers’ Compensation Commission on behalf of a client. We represent a worker who suffered a significant lower back injury as a result of a trip-and-fall accident at work. As a result of this...
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act covers employees who suffer injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment. A common mistaken belief is that you have to suffer an injury on your employer’s premises in order to qualify for work comp...
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has been evolving every day, and as it evolves, legislation at all levels of government has been proposed to attempt to deal with the challenges which lie ahead for first responders and healthcare workers. Frustration is...
First of all, I want to assure you that our office fully intends to remain open and operational throughout this outbreak. Given the advantages of modern technology, even in the event we are compelled to work remotely, we will remain fully capable of answering...
Attorney Brent Eames of Eames Law Group has settled a lawsuit filed in Will County against Pace Suburban Bus related to injuries our client sustained after being struck by a Pace van while crossing the street in downtown Joliet. Pace Suburban Bus is a...
