Need advice from a newbie!!!

[angelabove]

Was hurt as work Thursday 8/28/08 -- putting freight on the overhead shelf -- I felt a sharp pain in my right hand from my fingertips, down my arm and across my chest. When I brought my hand down it was already swelling and turning black and blue. No cuts at all- An accident report was filed, workman comp was called and I went to my family doctor. The doctor said it was most likely a ruptured blood vessel and hopefully by Tuesday it will be better. I received med for the pain and swelling. However, Tuesday I went back to dr and know they are concerned due to the right hand is still swollen, the fingernails are fading in color and my hand is somewhat purple. An MRI was requested and w/c is dragging their feet. Dr is worried that circulation is being cut off somewhere so the Dr called my health insurance and they will pay if w/c doesn't however, w/c will have to have a ligitimate reason why they wouldn't pay. Therefore the MRI is scheduled for this Friday.
My question is what are my rights in Illinois?
I have called w/c 10 times in the last two days and yes I have it noted. In addition, my Job says I have to wait 7 days before in any wages are paid. (And yes the doctor will not let me work)
Please help I really don't know what to expect and what I should be doing to make sure I am not crossed off.
Another concern of mine is that I have a side job that I am unable to do therefore I am losing both my incomes -- Is there a way to make sure my family does not suffer in this process.
Thank you for knowledge it is much appreciated.

[Tuffy]

You have done everything you are to do. Go for your MRI, Let the IC and WC fight it out. If your Dr said you can't work, that means your side job to. You should be receiving WC benefits soon, 66 2/3% of your wages. Start gathering all information on your injury, all Dr reports , any coraspondance from employer etc. make copys of everything, just in case things start to go south. If you go to the top of this page go under State Info and look up Illinois. Anything else we can do to help let us know. there are several of us here from Illinois. And welcome.

[lfoster21]

Tuffy is right, you have done what needs to be done at this point, so you might want to use this time to do as much research as possible. The more deucated you are on your state's W/C rules, the better you next several months/years will be.

They were correct in saying that you had to wait the 7 days...however, if you have sick leave from your job, you can use it.

I was in the same position as you, being in 2 different jobs. My Dr. also said to be off work and I did take off of both. When I was ready to go back to the 2nd job, I let w/c know and asked if there was any way to get 2/3 of that lost wage and I was not able to do that. They explained that if the 2nd job was the same type of job, then they would have to pay those lost wages as well. However, if the other job is different in any way, they do not have to pay you for that lost time.

Please feel free to ask any questions, as you think of them. The W/C system can get very messy and confusing, so do not hesitate to ask anything.

[kate]

In Illinois, the waiting period is 3 days not 7 and if you are off more than 14 days, then the first 3 would be paid retroactively. Also, the wages from your second job may be included in your average weekly wage calculation. (820 ILCS 305/10 - When the employee is working concurrently with two or more employers and the respondent employer has knowledge of such employment prior to the injury, his wages from all such employers shall be considered as if earned from the employer liable for compensation.)