Top workers’ compensation attorney in Chicago, Brent Eames, represented a DuPage County Deputy Sheriff as a result of a significant knee injury he sustained while working in the DuPage County Jail. While he was attempting to recover from his knee injury, our client developed an altered gait from favoring his injured leg, resulting in added pressure onto his right leg and right ankle. After many months of overcompensation, our client developed a significant right ankle injury for which he was recommended to undergo surgery. DuPage County denied our client’s claim that his right ankle injury was related to the workers compensation claim, arguing that he did not suffer any ankle injury as a result of his work accident, and the overcompensation from his knee injury did not cause or aggravate any conditions in his right ankle. The County hired an expert orthopedic surgeon who opined that any issues with our client’s ankle were purely pretexting and degenerative in nature.
Brent Eames took the case to trial. We called our client’s treating surgeon as a witness, who testified that our client’s overuse of his right ankle due to overcompensating from his left knee injury caused his right ankle injury, and the need for surgery. Unfortunately, the Arbitrator ruled in favor of DuPage County and found the testimony of the County’s retained expert to be more credible and persuasive than our client’s own physician. As a result, the claim for the right ankle injury was denied.
Eames Law Group timely appealed the decision of the Arbitrator to a reviewing panel of Commissioners. On appeal, the Commission REVERSED the decision of the Arbitrator and ruled in our client’s favor by finding that based upon the greater weight of the evidence, his right ankle injury was caused by his overcompensation from the work-related knee injury. Given that this chain-of-events lead to the need for right ankle surgery, the Commission found by unanimous decision that our client is entitled to all benefits related to his right ankle injury, including the proposed surgery, and any temporary or permanent disability benefits which are incurred as a result.
Attorney Brent Eames never stops fighting for our clients. If the insurance company is denying your claim, we will take your case to trial and fight to obtain all benefits which you are entitled to as a matter of law. If an insurance company has denied your work comp claim or refused to pay work comp benefits, you owe it to yourself to contact one of the best work comp attorneys in Chicago, to discuss your rights. Our firm has been elected to state leadership positions in the area of work comp law, and frequently lectures to other attorneys regarding law, and trial strategies in Illinois work comp cases. If you have been injured, you should immediately contact Eames Law Group for a free consultation to discuss your options.
