Mike Helfand

Connect: Read more about Mike Helfand
Firm/Organization: The Law Offices of Michael J. Helfand L.L.C.
Blogs: Illinois Workers Compensation Law Blog

Latest Articles

A caller to my office told me that he was hurt at work and receiving benefits for a knee injury.  His doctor wants to do surgery, but before the insurance company would approve it, they want him to see an IME (independent medical examination) doctor. He’s heard stories about how many of these physicians are hired guns and is worried that he’s about to get screwed. His concerns are valid.  In fact, the other day…
Happy Valentine’s Day!  It’s unethical (and gross) for an attorney to be in a romantic relationship with a client.  But that doesn’t mean your lawyer shouldn’t give you love. By “give you love” I mean your attorney should care about you.  How can they do that? Do they return your phone calls? Are they talking down to you? Will they answer your questions? Do they remember details of your case and how you got hurt?…
Another snowy and wet winter in Chicago.  That means a lot of slip and falls.  In general the law in Illinois has been that if you are working and on your employer’s premises when you fall, you have a case.  On the other hand, if you are in a place where you work, but it’s where the general public is, you wouldn’t have a case. The Illinois Appellate Court, in an unpublished opinion, has clarified…
A reader of my blog got in touch and asked a really good question: “My case isn’t going very well.  What should I do?” Now as you can imagine, we had a longer conversation because I needed to know specifics, but the fact that this worker even asked at all is a good sign.  Too many people see that their case isn’t going well and just assume that’s how it goes or that the legal…
To be permanently and totally disabled under Illinois law means that there is essentially no job you can do because your injuries and physical restrictions due to the injury are so severe that they prevent you from being able to work.  The standard to show that under Illinois work comp law is different than showing you are disabled from working for purposes of social security. People who are declared permanently and totally disabled under IL…
We are Chicago based workers compensation attorneys who through our State wide network handle cases throughout Illinois.  We have over 20 years experience and will fight for you.  Fill out our contact form, click on the chat button or call us at 312-346-5578 to talk or free with a lawyer. We have been involved in a lot of claims against Ford Motor Company in Illinois for work injuries.  I just read about a case against…
A reader of my blog asked the following: My husband was hurt at work in Chicago and missed four months with a knee injury.  He’s been back at work for six months.  Three months ago the adjuster said she was going to make a settlement offer, but she never did and she hasn’t returned our calls?  Do you think they will make an offer an if not how long do we have to bring a…
It’s official: The most common cause of workplace injury is working too hard. Okay, perhaps that is an extreme way to put it, but records continuously show through the years that the most common cause of workplace injury is overexertion. Overexertion includes tasks involving repetitive motion, which in turn, can temporarily, or even permanently, injure muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons and even your bones. Yes, that is right. Overexertion can be a culprit of injury to…
howlong
Someone who recently clicked on my chat button (which I assume you’ve seen already) and asked a really good question.  She wanted to know how long it would take to get her IME report.  An IME report is an “independent medical exam” finding. Basically, the insurance company gets to pick a doctor to examine you and offer their opinions on:  your medical condition, the care needed and whether or not your problems are work-related. We…
workerscomp
While I generally think that people are good, when money is involved it makes some people do bad things. When it comes to Illinois work comp cases this usually means lying. The latest whopper I heard involved a flight attendant who works for a major airline and is based out of Chicago. She had an accident on a layover in another country.  She reported it to her HR and was told that it couldn’t be…