Illinois knee question

[Konstructor1]

I had a torn ACL and torn meniscus. Had surgery( double bundle acl repair) and cut down the meniscus. Everything has been taken care of by work comp (no problems).
I've been told in Illinois each body part is worth a certain amount as far as a settlement is concerned.
My question is this what kind of settlement am I looking at? I know my attorney has an impact on that.
Bills are starting to creep up and I'm just looking for a ballpark. Some friends said $20,000 others said $35,000. Any ideas would be great.

Thanks, Mike

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Maybe $10,000.00 to $17,000.00 sounds more in the norm.

[1171]

In Illinois, settlements are based on permanent partial disability (PPD). PPD is how the injury affects one on the job in terms of work ability. It is not "pain and suffering". That is a term used in civil law rather than workers' compensation law.

PPD is based on the injury, type of job, and restrictions. The main factors to be considered in settlement include how the injury affects the employee at work, wage changes, hours worked changes, current medical treatment and future medical treatment.
Besides a monetary settlement, one may be entitled to retraining benefits or future medical benefits.
Within types of injuries, there are "ranges" that a case might settle in. They depend an many factors as stated above.

there is no way to give a precise settlement figure as each case is different; and each knee injury is diffferent.

[Konstructor1]

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize there were so many variables.
Nothing is ever easy is it?

[1171]

not when it's designed by lawyer legislators to keep them and their colleagues in business.

[lfoster21]

I know that VA's W/C laws are taken from IL's laws, which is where I am located. Just to make sure I was giving you the right info. about an award for a perm. disability, I looked it up online, and this is what I found.

"Where the worker is able to return to regular work but retains permanent limitations or restrictions as a result of the work injury, Illinois law provides for an assessment of permanent partial disability or a % impairment or loss of the particular body part affected.

For example, an arthroscopic knee surgery which results in permanent disability is often compensated at 15% to 20% loss of use of the leg. In cases of permanent injuries of this nature, Illinois law uses a formula for compensation based on the average weekly wage and based on a schedule for the value of each body part."

I hope that helps a little.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

lfoster21 I'm from Illinois also. My issues is, as I do have Attorney friends, and some are work comp Attorney's. I get information from them, and I share information with them that helps injured workers. I have yet to see a case that settled here based on a Percentage of loss yet. Or none recent yet. I have been told last week, by one of my Attorney WC friends, that in Illinois, they are seeing more and more $200,000.00 to $250,000.00 claim settlements lately.

My knowledge of the knee settlemenets has been seen as a Mim, of $10,000.00 to $17,000.00, as of last year. I am then guessing from the rencent news that knee's may then increase as well soon, or following with this year also.

[lfoster21]

I love the figures...I can only hope I get soemthing like that. As for the %, this article that I found online was only talking about a Permanently impairment award, which is seperate for a settlement. The settlements have to do with loss of income and future health insurance. The 200-250,000 is the settlement amount and not the PI award. See if you can find out from your friends if this article correct about how they figure the Perm. Impairment award. I'd love to hear thier thoughts on that.

[sparkey]

So here in NH I received a PI rating of 10% and got my award a few weeks ago. As far as my future medical, I have not heard anything about how long I am covered for my doctors appointments,treatments. I go monthly to PM and also have gangloin injections ( 3 ) that I am going through.[/i]

Is there a time limit for treatment in NH? I cannot seem to find anything to find out that answer. I have never been offered anything from the IC to settle to get me off their backs. If anyone has that answer, I would appreciate it.