Geneva, IL (Law Firm Newswire) January 20, 2022 – We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Chavez has been named an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers℠.

To be selected as an Emerging Lawyer, a candidate must be of proven character and display an outstanding aptitude for the practice of law early in their career. Emerging Lawyers, who are selected by their peers, must be 40 years of age or younger or have practiced for no more than 10 years. Only 2 percent of all lawyers licensed to practice law in the state are considered Emerging Lawyers.

Elizabeth Chavez is…
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Most workers in Illinois are covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation provides employees who are injured during the course and scope of employment with financial assistance. Unfortunately, however, not all workers’ compensation claims are approved. In fact, there are multiple reasons that workers’ compensation claims are denied in Illinois, including: 

• Incomplete reports
• Poor recordkeeping
• Insufficient evidence
• Preexisting conditions
• The injury didn’t take place in the course and scope of employment

Luckily, if your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, you aren’t out of options. In this article, we discuss what to do following a workers’ compensation claim denial in Illinois. …
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If you get hurt at work in the state of Illinois, you may be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, not all employers are required to carry such insurance. In this article, we explain when workers’ compensation is required in the state of Illinois. 

Employer/Employee Relationship 

Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (“IWCA”), an employer/employee relationship is required for a worker to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Such coverage is required in nearly all fields of work and must be carried by the majority of employers. Workers’ compensation coverage begins for a new employee as soon as he or…
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When determining a person’s eligibility for workers’ compensation, it’s important to determine whether he or she is an employee or an independent contractor. Employees are eligible for worker’s compensation in Illinois—independent contractors are not. However, depending on the circumstances, some independent contractors may be considered employees under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, thereby making them eligible for worker’s compensation following an injury. In this article, we discuss whether independent contractors can get workers’ compensation in Illinois. 

What is an Independent Contractor?

An independent contractor is a self-employed person who is hired by a company to perform specific tasks without being…
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Cold weather presents unique hazards to workers. Fortunately, many cold-weather injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. In this article, we discuss workers’ compensation and cold weather injuries. 

Common Cold Weather Injuries

Cold weather injuries can be painful and even fatal. Therefore, it’s crucial to be able to recognize the symptoms of common cold-weather injuries. Common cold-weather injuries include: 

Frostbite: Frostbite is the most common cold-weather injury, and its severity varies depending on the length of exposure. Frostbite often occurs in the toes, fingers, and face. Symptoms include a burning or tingling sensation, itching, and numbness. If left untreated, frostbite can result…
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Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides medical benefits and wage replacement to employees who are injured in the course of employment. In other words, it provides financial compensation to employees who are injured on the job. Although most employees are generally familiar with the concept of a workers’ compensation claim, there are several misconceptions about workers’ compensation benefits. In this article, we examine some common workers’ compensation myths. 

Myth #1: You Must Be Doing Your Job When You Get Injured

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be doing your job when you suffer an injury…
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Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits provide injured persons an opportunity to obtain financial compensation for their injuries. However, there are several important differences between the two. In this article, we explain the differences between workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits. 

Fault

In most personal injury cases, an injured party must prove that someone else caused his or her injuries. In other words, a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit must demonstrate another’s fault before he or she can recover financial compensation. However, in workers’ compensation cases, the employee is not required to prove that his or her…
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Employment discrimination is the mistreatment of an employee by an employer due to the employee’s membership in a protected class. There are several types of employment discrimination, including: 

• Race discrimination
• Disability discrimination
• Age discrimination
• National origin discrimination
• Ethnicity discrimination
• Gender discrimination
• Pregnancy status discrimination

If you believe you are a victim of employment discrimination, you should contact an employment discrimination attorney as soon as possible. Below, we examine the steps to take if you’re a victim of employment discrimination. 

Employment Discrimination Steps to Take

If you are a victim of employment discrimination, you should take the following steps to ensure…
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Workers’ compensation laws protect employees who are injured on the job. These laws provide benefits to injured workers and the families of employees who are killed as a result of work-related accidents or injuries. Workers’ compensation laws exist on both the state and federal levels. If you’ve been injured on the job, the nature of your work will determine which workers’ compensation laws apply to your situation. Below, we discuss some of the key federal and state workers’ compensation laws affecting Illinois employees. 

Federal Workers’ Compensation Laws

There are several important federal workers’ compensation laws, including:

• The Federal Employment Compensation

…
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The federal government is defrauded out of billions of dollars each year. To combat this issue, the government relies heavily on citizens to report information concerning fraud. People who report fraud to the government are known as whistleblowers. In this article, we discuss whistleblowers and the specific protections they enjoy under state and federal law. If you have information concerning fraud against the government, please contact a qui tam attorney for assistance. 

Whistleblower Overview

A whistleblower is a person who reports information concerning certain types of fraud to the authorities. The government relies on whistleblowers to help combat fraud. To…
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On-the-job injuries are a fact of life in many professions. Fortunately, many workplace injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured on the job in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to file a lawsuit against his or her employer for negligence. A typical workers’ compensation insurance policy covers the cost of medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages caused by work-related injuries. Workers’ compensation also provides benefits to the families of employees who die from work-related accidents. In this…
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