Disfigurement Benefits for Illinois Workers Compensation Claims

Workplace injuries that result in scarring and disfigurement can be not only physically devastating but also emotionally damaging. While compensation for scarring is typically based on the area of the body where the scar appears (with the most visible, dramatic scarring being eligible for the highest levels of compensation), disfigurement benefits are generally evaluated on the basis of the extent of the disfigurement and whether it impairs bodily function in any way.

In general, disfigurement and scarring benefits are allotted as settlements awarded as lump-sum payments by an employer’s insurance company. In an attempt to get a more long-term assessment of how the disfigurement or scarring will affect the injured worker, as well as whether the disfigurement or scarring can be legally defined as being permanent, negotiations with insurance companies are typically set to occur at least six months after the date on which the injury is sustained. It’s important to note that, in such negotiations for disfigurement and scarring settlements, it will be crucial that injured workers have an experienced workers compensation attorney representing their rights, as insurance companies are notorious for offering grossly inadequate settlements in these cases.

Types of Disfigurement and Scarring Injuries

Some of the most common types of injuries that result in disfigurement and scarring and, as a result, could make injured workers eligible for workers compensation disfigurement benefits include (but are not limited to):

• Burns, including chemical burns
• Lacerations
• Loss of a digit or extremity
• Loss of an eye or ear
• Nerve damage that results in an inability to use one’s limbs
• Scratches to the cornea, retina or other part of the eye
• Traumatic brain injuries that could result in stroke-like symptoms

At the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon workers compensation lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their workplace injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life. If you or a loved one has sustained any type of injury while working, contact us by calling (800)-553-3125 for a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.