Scarring

Chicago Law Firm to Represent Scarred Commonwealth Edison Employees

Commonwealth Edison employees face a host of risks on the job. Among these risks are explosions, fires, shocks, chemical exposures, defective equipment, and falls from elevations. You may need significant medical care and also to take time off. You may be traumatized. On top of that, you may suffer scars or disfigurement that changes your ability to perform the work. If you suffered work-related injuries that left scarring, you should consult the experienced Chicago Commonwealth Edison worker lawyers of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca.

Scarring

The risks of scarring on the job is high for Commonwealth Edison employees. Falls on the job can result in serious injuries that leave scars. Electrical arcing in connection with equipment failures can result in serious burns. Additionally, overhead and buried power lines can carry an acutely high voltage and yet, they may not be spotted; an encounter with them can result in an electrocution accident that is scarring. Similarly, equipment that contacts a line can carry electricity that shocks or burns a ComEd employee. Scars can be painful and also leave a worker unable to do his or her job.

Medical Benefits

When you are injured on the job as a ComEd employee, you may be entitled to reasonable and necessary medical care. This can include payment not only of your medical bills, but also requirements that you obtain medications and incur medical mileage. When you suffer serious scarring, you may need revision surgery or even multiple surgeries. You may be entitled to have ComEd’s insurer pay for these surgeries, which are typically quite expensive. Often, however, ComEd and its insurer dispute whether surgeries are reasonable or necessary because of their significant costs. Our lawyers will work with your treating provider and experts, as appropriate, to seek to have your surgeries and other treatments covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

Disfigurement Benefit

You may be able to obtain disfigurement benefits if you suffered serious and permanent scarring on the job and it permanently impacts your ability to work for ComEd. The scarring should be on a part of the body that is visible such as your face or neck or hand. You can typically obtain 60% of your weekly pay for up to 162 weeks. You won’t be able to collect both compensation for disfigurement and for a loss of use of the same part of the body.

Lump Sum Settlement

You may be offered a lump sum settlement for work-related scarring. You should not accept such a settlement without talking to an attorney and certainly not before you attain maximum medical improvement (MMI). You will need to waive certain rights in order to obtain the settlement; however, our lawyers may be able to negotiate with ComEd’s insurer to make sure that you retain certain rights that you would normally need to waive. In most cases, it is wise to wait and see whether your scarring is fully resolved and stabilized before seeking a lump sum settlement.

Third Party Lawsuit in or Around Chicago

In some cases, it may be appropriate to seek damages through a third-party lawsuit. The circumstances that result in work-related scars will determine the theory under which our attorneys seek relief. For example, if you were scarred by burns received while dealing with a buried power line on private property and a property owner knew or should have known the power line presented a hazard, it may be appropriate to seek damages from the owner in a premises liability lawsuit. For another example, if you suffered scarring lacerations to your face in a car accident while driving to a site to do electrical work, we may be able to sue for damages under a theory of negligence.

Legal Representation for Commonwealth Edison Employees With Scarring

Scarring can be painful and life altering. Our Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys handle the workers’ compensation claims of Commonwealth Edison employees in Champaign, Rockford, Quincy, and Aurora, along with Cook, Kane, Sangamon, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. We also handle Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims and third-party lawsuits on behalf of those who work for ComEd. Call us at 312-724-5846 or complete our online form.