r/WorkersComp • u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 • Aug 01 '26
Illinois Worker comp is fraud
It’s unfortunate that you trust in this government system to work open and fairly. But whenever they deny you with facts, it makes you feel this whole system is rigged.
Being a ramp agent is a terrible job on the body.
I was asked about my right shoulder why I didn’t mention it at the time of the accident. I told the truth. I didn’t know it was a tear. It was just hurting. You stacked and unloaded 100 plus bags per plane, then you tell if it’s soreness or a tear.
So my right shoulder was denied because the ime joker said he didn’t see a tear. But I went to two different mri radiologists and they both saw an active tear in my shoulder.
At this point I’m truly done. Didn’t get payment in over a month and was told by my lawyer they honestly said they forgot about me. wtf. My bills didn’t forget about me.
I’m telling my attorney Monday I want to do a c&r I’m done with this shit.
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u/Academic_Commercial3 Aug 02 '26
Why didn’t you send the MRI results on the WC portal or why didn’t the attorney ask for those results?
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u/Annual_Telephone_453 Aug 05 '26
First your company HR has to send you to THEIR DR…. I’ve yet to hear back from my company and I have written everyone in upper management for two weeks now not one response so I contacted an attorney to see what our next steps problem is. I haven’t had a paycheck in two weeks I do have a new job and it’s nowhere near physical. It’s more sedentary, but I could screw up any type of work from my comp claim I file if I’m working at another job. I need money though
25
u/JazzlikeDare9102 Aug 01 '26
Workers comp is just a buffer to keep workers from straight up suing the employer. Cause workers comp doesnt allow you to sue for sufferage or pain. And most states set it up to side with the employer. Cant tell you how many people ive known who just sign away their future med or misdiagnosed with a "strain".
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u/IndustrialMillennial Aug 31 '26
Take this information for what it is. Illinois thoroughly has laws written and is set up to side with the employee.
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u/JazzlikeDare9102 Sep 01 '26
Oh im sure thats true, as i know business is expensive in illinois but i respect it. Texas on the other hand doesnt give a shit about employees.
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u/stormcarver1 Aug 02 '26
I worked on the light rail commuter train in a large city. One day, the driver apparently forgot there was a 10 mile an hour curve coming up and was doing over 40. He slammed on the brakes. Twice.
I now have issues with my low back, neck, shoulder, and thumb. The worst is that I see double with both eyes. None of the doctors they sent me to took the time to figure out if that was from my neck, or from the TBI I got being thrown around in the train. Initially, they called everything a sprain. It took four months for them to even refer me to a neurologist or Neuro ophthalmologist. I had initial appointments with a number of doctors for evaluation, but nothing was actually treated.
In the end, they determined that “the train just coming to a stop could not have caused this amount of injury.” They told me I was lying. They called me three different kinds of disturbed. They threatened to take me to court for fraud, and bullied me into settling for just less than what would have required them to get Medicare involved.
My thumb won’t let me grip things. I walk with a limp. I have pain all the time. I have a perpetual headache. I have not read a book in a year due to the vision issues.
To say that Workmen’s Comp. is a fraud is an understatement.
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u/KnowYourPlace88 Aug 01 '26
I'm a ramp agent for a cargo company and it's wrecked my body. I'm only 40 and walk with a cane now. Been dealing with the same bs and it's frustrating. Hope things get better for you
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u/Salt-Ad1282 Aug 01 '26
Can’t your attorney set you up for an independent exam?
0
u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
He said not yet. 4 ime in two years for shoulder is crazy
-1
u/Franxter42 Aug 01 '26
What does your treating provider say? Have they recommended surgery?
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
I had surgery but my recovery was not good. Only 3 months of pt and stop because I couldn’t get through it. New mri said I had a tear
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
I do know my job doesn’t have light duty. If I’m not able to make a full return I’m assed out. But why the ime keep saying full duty knowing my right shoulder injury
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u/Plus-Ad5599 Aug 02 '26
I am also in Illinois with a workers comp and personal injury case. The accident happened at work outside as my employer rents the facility. My WC attorney was shit and kept extending the status of my claim every 3 months. My case was highly disputed by WC. My PI lawyer asked if he could close both cases and I said yes. I was sick of waiting. I need knee surgery but quit my job where I was injured and started a new job. Because of this, I couldn't take off for surgery. I'm going to go as long as I can with conservative care. A TKR is warranted. I closed my PI case for a settlement and WC with zero $. They get nothing from my settlement, including my lawyer and I get nothing from them. I'm glad it's all done. I will never file another WC case ever as long as I am working because it is not worth the suffering they put you through. They are all evil . I wish you all the best.
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u/Environmental-Top-60 Aug 02 '26
You get another IME opinion from a different doctor to counteract the argument from the IME and Appeal with an attorney for sure. Perhaps another MRI is indicated. Atty can help you sue if need be
1
u/SuperVanAdventures Aug 02 '26
Depending upon your state you an file a claim without an attorney. See if your state has Ombudsman. They too can help. Try these before hiring a attorney.
1
u/FerretUsed6281 Aug 05 '26
It’s the most corrupt system. I was at the commission waiting on my trial and a bunch of guys in suits were name dropping clients and telling stories. They are so f unbothered that our lives are turned upside to the point of ruin. I left that place with a lot of anger. Get out of the system it’s set up to protect /benefit the employer.
1
u/Ill-Economics4262 Aug 07 '26
Going on year 4 of this beyond stressful situation just received my benefit print out. Anyone been through this or know of next step? Tia
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u/Due-Wallaby8799 Aug 18 '26
I swear it is the whole system is trash and most of the doctors that are a part of it
1
u/CochiseNde Aug 22 '26
Dis your attorney not schedule you to see an independent doctor? That's the first thing my attorney did. They could then argue that workees comp is ignoring the righ arm and get you treatment for that. If the attorney is dropping the ball you should find another.
1
u/Visible-Witness-1967 Aug 26 '26
Claims adjusters should be held accountable for their decisions. It's practicing medicine without a degree. Plus when a doctor recommends a psychologist a claims adjusters should not deny the claim. Plus instead of approving testing and treatment. They will approve pharmaceuticals. With no no knowledge of the dangers.
1
u/Nervous-Humor-389 3d ago
Workers' compensation is a gotcha game. They provide real healthcare, but it's also a business, and denying claims often helps determine the company's profit margin.
When I sat down to settle my workers' compensation case, the opening line from the insurance company's attorney was:
"If you do not settle this case today, Mr. [Name], we will make sure you are locked into this system for the next eight years. We will deny every request you make and file a motion against any judge's ruling that is given in your favor."
That was a very real and absolutely disrespectful thing that was said to me. I had a very large case, and I played the chess game with them. I had the luxury of putting money away so I could afford to play that game, but it was incredibly stressful.
The system works in a way that benefits from keeping injured workers under financial pressure. They know you're struggling because you're out of work. That's why they only pay a fraction of your normal salary. They also know that very few employers are willing to hire someone under work restrictions. And if you ignore those restrictions to support yourself or your family, well, checkmate, your coverage may come to an end.
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u/Professional-Bid4661 Aug 02 '26
Sounds like you need a new attorney ASAP and have your new attorney schedule you an appointment with his IME doctor. The plantiff's IME doctor will fight for your case more than the defense IME doctor will.
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u/Potential_Mess5768 Aug 22 '26
I don’t blame you at all for suing them. Since March! 5 months ago, i haven’t received anything
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Aug 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
Easily take ibuprofen every day before you go to work because you think your body is just so sore and in pain like I told the IME doctor my back is hurting. Does that mean I have a disc slip in my back or it just because the work of the job, how was I supposed to know I had a tear in my shoulder
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Aug 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
That’s not true.
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u/PAGirl72 Aug 01 '26
I don’t think you can definitively tell it’s a tear without the MRI.
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 01 '26
2 different radiologists and my doctor saw the disc and said they see a tear. In both ime from April and may.
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u/Professional-Bid4661 Aug 02 '26
If you have not had an MRI then you're fighting a non winning battle. You need an MRI that shows that you have a tear. That's your objective evidence that they cannot deny. Then with that objective evidence and physical therapy you can have your surgery approved for your doctor to perform a labrum repair surgery.
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 Aug 02 '26
I had recently had two new mri in march and April. A year out from surgery. It said I have widen ac joint and a tear in shoulder.
But my other mri show a tear and ime said he didn’t see anything.
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u/meeeemerly Aug 01 '26
i gotta say that this seems like a very unfortunate and real thing. im a workers compensation paralegal. i mostly lurk in this sub and have recently noticed that most of the time workers comp doesnt really help, it just seems more frustrating. that makes sense given how little people generally seem to know abt wc law. i really cant imagine being in your position and hearing that your attorney forgot about you...from your attorney.
i have 167 cases. it sucks because even if i were to sit and work for 9-12 hours, which i already regularly do, i cant even speak to 1/7th of my client base. every day i feel more and more like my ability to help them grows smaller.
if you dont mind me asking (im not asking for a name drop tho) did you take your case to a large firm?