When you are injured on the job in Antioch, Illinois or the surrounding communities — including Lake County, Gurnee, Lindenhurst, Grayslake, and Waukegan — your priority should be recovery.
Unfortunately, insurance adjusters and employers may not always have your best interests at heart. Workers’ compensation insurance companies are profit-driven, and adjusters are trained to minimize payouts.
To ensure you receive full and fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, and long-term disability, you must understand common adjuster strategies and know how to respond.
It is common for insurance companies to hire private investigators to videotape injured workers in an attempt to catch them exceeding their doctor’s restrictions. The size and cost of video cameras have been reduced and insurance adjusters step up their efforts to videotape injured workers exceeding their doctor’s restrictions, even if it is only for a brief moment.
Every time you are outside your house it is best to assume that a private investigator hired by the insurance company may be videotaping you. Private investigators routinely follow injured workers to stores in an effort to catch them carrying heavy groceries or shopping bags to the car to prove that they are capable of exceeding their doctor’s restrictions.
If you determine that you are being videotaped, (the odds are you will not, because the private investigators are very sophisticated) the best thing to do is pretend that you do not know they are there. Do not use profanity or flip off the private investigator as this will not put you in a good light in front of the arbitrator if your case proceeds to a hearing.
Private investigators enjoy videotaping injured workers mowing their lawns, even if it is just for a short period of time. Private investigators will spend hours on a “stakeout” in an effort to get a minute or two of videotape of an injured pushing his lawnmower in an effort to bar or reduce the value of the case, even knowing that an injured worker has good days and bad days and the fact that an injured person may have only been pushing the lawnmower for a very short period of time.
Investigators stage bogus contests allowing the injured worker to win a gift such as a case of pop or a 20-pound frozen turkey. When the injured worker appears to claim the prize, he is videotaped carrying the case of pop and/or bag of groceries and/or frozen turkey out to his car.
Investigators will stoop so low as to drop a few dollar bills near the injured worker’s car in an effort to catch the injured worker bending over to pick up the dollar bills when the injured worker’s doctor’s restrictions state that he is unable to bend over.
Investigators may pay a neighbor or a co-worker to videotape the injured worker doing an activity in which the injured worker’s doctor recommended that he could not perform. They may also pay a co-worker to telephone the injured worker under the false pretense that the co-worker is concerned for the injured worker’s condition to inquire what the injured worker has been doing while he’s off on worker’s compensation and receiving TTD benefits, hoping that the injured worker will misspeak stating that he has performed an activity that exceeded his doctor’s recommendations.
Investigators may take the air out of an injured worker’s car or truck tire, hoping to videotape the injured worker changing the tire.
There are endless ways that unscrupulous workers’ compensation investigators will attempt to try to catch someone violating the doctor’s orders so that they insurance company can deny the claim. If you want to make sure that you aren’t doing things that can jeopardize your claim call our Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers.
If you feel your workers’ compensation claim is being unfairly delayed or denied call theIllinois workers’ compensation lawyersat Robert Edens Law Office inAntiochat (847) 395-2200
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. In Illinois, almost all employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The system is intended to provide:
UnderIllinois law (820 ILCS 305), injured workers are generally entitled to these benefits regardless of who was at fault. However, proving your claim and maximizing benefits often requires careful documentation and strategic handling of your case.
Insurance adjusters are employed by the insurer to evaluate claims and determine benefit amounts. While ethical adjusters follow the law, many are under pressure to control costs. This can lead to tactics that undermine legitimate claims. Their primary objective is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line — not to ensure that you receive every benefit you deserve.
In Antioch and the wider Lake County region, adjusters may use the following strategies to limit payments:
After an injury, an adjuster may contact you quickly and attempt to obtain a recorded statement. These early conversations are often designed to lock in details that the insurer can later use to deny or reduce your claim.
Adjusters may suggest that your injury is “not that serious” or attribute your symptoms to pre-existing conditions rather than your workplace accident. They may request vague descriptions of pain rather than specific limitations.
Insurance companies sometimes hire investigators to monitor injured workers to find evidence of activities that appear inconsistent with claimed limitations. This can be used to deny or reduce benefits.
Adjusters may delay responses to requests for medical evaluations, payment of benefits, or authorization of treatments. Delays can cause financial and emotional stress, pressuring you to accept a lowball settlement.
Insurance companies often send injured workers to their own doctors forindependent medical examinations (IMEs). While IMEs are permitted, the physicians may be inclined to interpret findings in the insurer’s favor.
Understanding these tactics can help you avoid traps that reduce your benefits.
Adjusters may ask questions like “Did you hurt yourself before?” or “Are you sure this happened at work?” Their goal is to generate responses that cast doubt on your claim. You are not required to provide a recorded statement without your attorney present and you never should.
Insurance companies may send forms that appear benign but can include language limiting your compensation recovery. Always review forms carefully and consult an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before signing.
A quick settlement offer may seem attractive, especially when bills are mounting. However, early offers often fail to account for long-term medical care, future lost wages, or permanent disability. Accepting too soon can lock you into a low amount.
Adjusters may argue that your injury is due to non-work activities, aging, or pre-existing conditions. If you were in good health before the accident or had prior issues unrelated to your job, your attorney can help demonstrate the work connection.
Adjusters might calculate wage benefits based on incomplete or inaccurate information. They may dispute overtime, shift differentials, or bonuses, resulting in lower wage replacement.
Protecting your rights begins with proper documentation and strategic action. The following steps can help reinforce your claim:
Under Illinois law, you must notify your employer as soon as possible after an injury. Delays can be used against you by adjusters.
Always get medical treatment, even if injuries seem minor. Document symptoms, treatment dates, and provider recommendations. Your medical records are critical evidence.
Maintain copies of medical bills, diagnostic reports, wage statements, time missed from work, and communication logs with your employer and insurer.
Do not give recorded statements to the insurance adjuster or sign documents without your attorney’s review.
Provide truthful information, but do not volunteer details that can be misinterpreted. Stick to the facts of how the injury occurred and how it has impacted your life and work.
An experienced attorney familiar with Illinois workers’ compensation laws can help you navigate disputes, negotiate with adjusters, and pursue maximum benefits.
Insurance companies commonly request that injured workers undergo independent medical exams (IMEs) with physicians selected by the insurer. While these exams are legal, they can be misused to minimize your injuries or dispute your need for ongoing treatment.
Tips for handling IMEs:
Your attorney may recommend evaluations with your own healthcare provider or propose additional expert opinions.
After temporary benefits, medical treatment, and evaluations, the insurer may propose a settlement. Settlements are often presented as lump sum offers that resolve your claim. While a settlement may feel like closure, accepting a low amount can jeopardize your ability to pay future medical expenses or compensate yourself for permanent disabilities.
Before accepting any settlement, consider:
An attorney can negotiate on your behalf to ensure the settlement reflects your full range of losses.
Hiring an attorney is strongly recommended if:
An attorney helps level the playing field when adjusters use sophisticated tactics to limit your recovery.
No. Under Illinois law, the insurer must provide a basis for denial. If you believe the denial is unfair, an attorney can help you file an appeal or seek legal recourse through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
You generally have 45 days from the date of injury to notify your employer. If you miss this deadline, you may lose benefits. However, exceptions exist depending on circumstances.
If your injury is accepted as work-related, workers’ compensation pays for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the injury.
Retaliation is illegal. If your employer disciplines or terminates you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, you may have additional legal claims.
Yes. If your injury results in permanent impairment, you may be entitled to permanent partial or total disability benefits, depending on your condition.
If you were injured at work in Antioch, Illinois or the surrounding communities and are dealing with a difficult insurance adjuster or a denied claim, you do not have to navigate this process alone. Workers’ compensation claims can be complex, especially when adjusters use tactics that undermine your recovery.
Contact our experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Antioch today at (847) 395-2200 for a free consultation. We can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and pursue the maximum benefits available under Illinois law. Your recovery matters and legal guidance can make a meaningful difference in your outcome.
The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Office, have offices in Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Woodstock and Barrington. We represent clients throughout the communities of Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Barrington, Woodstock, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, Gurnee, Lake Zurich, Round Lake, McHenry, Cary, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Wheeling, North Chicago, Zion, Inverness, Palatine, Wauconda, Island Lake, Fox Lake, Barrington Hills, Spring Grove, Lake Bluff, Lakemoor, Long Grove, Lake Villa, Kildeer, Wadsworth, Indian Creek, Fox River Grove, Lindenhurst and other cities within Lake and McHenry Counties Illinois.
© 2026 The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, LLC., All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Disclaimer
Powered By
