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Convenient Locations in Benton and Harrisburg, IL
Workers' Compensation

Collect Your Workers' Compensation

Over 30 Years of Practice  |  98% Success Rate  |  Appointments Available Upon Request

Over 30 Years of Practice
98% Success Rate
Same-Day and Walk-In Appointments Available

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Get the Legal Help You Need

Ron D. Coffel has devoted nearly 30 years to helping injured workers with workplace accidents and third-party cases. He understands the impact of the three D's of workers' comp insurance companies: Delay, Deny, and Defend.

If the insurance company is delaying payment of your benefits or the approval of your medical or procedures, you should act now - don't wait! There are procedures you can use to obtain your right to medical care by a doctor of your choice and your weekly benefits. If the insurance company has denied your claim, many times the denial can be overcome by an experienced attorney with a record of success.

Rooted in Southern and Central Illinois

Rooted and based in the lower half of Illinois, Ron D. Coffel & Associates are dedicated to protecting and advocating the rights of injured workers. Born into a working class family and having his roots in the coal fields of Southern Illinois, Ron D. Coffel understands and identifies with the cause of injured workers. He knows that every industrial accident brings hardship, stress, and financial impact upon working people and their families. He takes pride in the recognition that, after law school graduation, he returned to his roots and served working class families and coal miners as Workers' Compensation Counselor for the United Mineworkers of America. He has successfully represented thousands of injured workers for nearly three decades.

If you have been injured in an industrial accident, by a negligent third party, vehicle, or machine, choose an experienced and respected lawyer with a track record of success to handle your case.

Recognized for Serving Injured Workers

Ron D. Coffel was recognized for his service to injured workers in the Southern Illinois coal industry by United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International Vice President Jerry Jones for his representation of coal miners and their families. Being from a coal mine family, he takes pride in returning to his roots to represent injured workers. You can read the letter from Jones to Ron D. Coffel here.
Workers Comp

Understanding Your Issues

Workers' compensation law entitles employees to certain types of benefits when an injury is suffered on the job or arises out of an accident during the course of employment while working. Most employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance, which covers these sorts of injuries.
Workers Comp

Your Peace of Mind is Our Business

A workers' compensation claim can be aggravating, frustrating, and complicated. The delay and denial of each can cause financial stress and impact the financial resources of injured workers and their family members. If you're getting frustrated and tired of delays, denials, and unanswered phone calls from insurance adjusters, let us help you.Your peace of mind is our concern and our business in every claim we handle.

Take the Correct Steps

When you're injured at work, the most important time to document your case is immediately after the accident. The key to a successful claim is proper documentation. Illinois law also requires that you provide notice (either written or oral) to your employer within 45 days of the accident. Here are some ways you can document your injury and protect your rights:
  1. Write down in detail exactly how the accident occurred as soon as possible after the accident. 
  2. Write down and take the names and contact information of all witnesses to the accident. 
  3. If the injury occurred on a machine, write down the machine manufacturer's name and serial number of the machine or other identifying marks and take pictures. Take possession and photograph any component parts or devices that caused injury.
  4. Request and complete a written accident report without delay. If you were not provided with a report to complete, provide oral notice to your employer or supervisor and write down their name and date the notice was given. Ask a coworker to be a witness.
  5. Request the employer to provide you with a copy of any accident or investigation reports. 
  6. Seek medical care as soon as possible after the accident. Don't wait. Give each medical provider with a detailed and accurate description of how the injury happened. 
  7. Keep copies of accident reports, investigation reports, forms, medical bills, records, prescription receipts, and the names as well as addresses of each medical provider.
  8.  Insist that you have the right to choose your own doctor. Don't permit your employer or its insurance company to direct your medical care to doctors of their choice.
  9. Request on each visit that your doctor completes a work status form and keep a copy of it. 
  10. Insist that you start to receive your weekly comp benefit check within 14 days from your first day off work. 
  11. File an application for adjustment of claim with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. 
  12. Don't delay - know your rights.
Workers Comp

NO Upfront Fees

There are NO upfront fees or costs. Your initial consultation with Ron D. Coffel & Associates is always FREE. Should you wish, you can speak with Ron D. Coffel by phone at 618-439-2515. Your fee is based upon the contingency that you win. You don't pay unless or until you recover. If you don't recover, you owe us nothing.

How much medical care am I entitled to under Illinois Workers Compensation laws? 

What is the extent of medical care allowed under the Illinois Workers Compensation Statute?  What is the duration of medical treatment offered to the injured worker under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act?  What is the effect on my medical rights if I sign for a workers compensation settlement?  Must I attend an independent medical examination requested under the workers compensation laws In illinois? These are common questions asked by many injured workers in workers compensation claims in Illinois Workers Compensation laws.


Under the Workers Compensation Act, the best Illinois workers compensation lawyers will be aggressive to pursue emergency petitions to promptly enforce medical rights.  An Illinois leading workers compensation lawyer must be skilled in filing interim benefit petitions to swiftly resolve disputes or delays to approving or paying for your medical care under Section 8A of the Workers Compensation Statute.


Your rights to medical care under the Illinois Workers compensation laws include the following:


 1.  Approval and payment without delay or denial of reasonable, necessary and causally related medical treatment and expenses.

2. The duration of medical treatment is for your lifetime unless you waive the right in an Illinois workers compensation settlement agreement.

3. The workers compensation insurance company may be liable for delaying or denying your treatment and expenses by being penalized.  Penalties can be substantial and include up to 50 percent of denied benefits, up to $10,000 for delayed payments of benefits, and up to 20 percent for attorney fees regarding the benefit.

4.  You have the right of choice of your medical physician - do not allow the workers compensation adjuster to force you to treat with insurance company doctors.

5. Emergency petitions to enforce medical treatment chosen by the employee must be filed by the aggressive workers compensation attorney.

6. There are limitations on insurance companies requests for injured workers independent medical examinations.  Multiple requested IME exams may be denied as abuse. Advance payment of mileage, meals and other expenses are required.

7.  Beware of the 3 D's of workers compensation insurance company's tactics: Delay, Deny, and Defend.

The best Illinois workers compensation attorney should know that immediate and aggressive enforcement of their clients right to medical care is an important part of every Illinois workers compensation claim. A leading Illinois workers compensation attorney will frequently file interim benefit petitions to enforce Illinois workers rights to medical care and for penalties against employers and adjusters who delay or deny approval or payment of Illinois workers compensation claims.

Whenever you are injured at work - you have entered a race with the workers compensation adjuster under Illinois workers compensation laws.  The race is to establish yourself with a treating physician of your own choice and an highly rated illinois workers compensation lawyer to enforce your rights.

Under Illinois Workers Compensation law, embodied in the Illinois Workers Compensation Act, the Statute requires your employer to provide and pay for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses which are causally related to the accidental work related injury.  Disputes take the following two forms under the Laws of Illinois Workers Compensation: 1. Delay and 2. Denial.  Many times the insurance company wants to take over the injured workers medical choice and direct medical care.

Are you tired of insurance adjusters who won't answer your phone call, refuse to approve medical care or an MRI, delay approving therapy, or refuse to approve your pain medication or other prescription medications? Or ask you to sign numerous medical authorizations to pry into your medical history? These are all tactics of denial. It's what makes Illinois workers compensation claims frustrating, aggravating, and a challenge under the Illinois workers compensation Act.  The best Illinois workers compensation lawyers know how to navigate through the Illinois workers compensation system.

If the insurance company is engaged in Delay of your rights, it may be a sign or symbol of things to come - Denial of your rights. Denial of your right to choose your physician, or denial of medical treatment recommended as necessary by your doctor.

The highly recommended Illinois workers compensation lawyer will be vigilant to timely file interim benefit (emergency) petitions to enforce your rights under Illinois workers compensation laws. The best Illinois workers compensation lawyer will immediately file enforcement petitions under the Illinois workers compensation statute and pursue penalties whenever appropriate.


Your right to medical care under Section 8A of the Workers Compensation Act is forever -- that is, your lifetime unless you do something to waive your right. It is a lifetime right under the laws of Illinois workers compensation as long as the treatment is reasonable, necessary and causally related to your injury under the Illinois Workers Compensation Statute.  You can lose this right, if your Illinois workers compensation lawyer includes waiver language in a workers compensation settlement agreement. Beware of waiver language in Illinois workers compensation settlements. Illinois workers compensation law permits insurance companies by settlement contract language to end its liability to provide future medical expenses.

It should not take weeks or months for the insurance adjuster to approve your medical care. You should be approved for emergency medical treatment and pain medication or other pharmacy medications without delay. The adjuster should not disappear or be unable to take your phone calls to approve your medical care.

If you are experiencing the 3 D's in your Illinois workers compensation claim, let me help. Ron D Coffel is a peer reviewed Leading Illinois Workers Compensation lawyer, recognized as among the best Illinois attorney in Illinois workers compensation law with nearly 35 years of experience.

Send Us a Message

FREE

Initial Consultations

618-439-2515
Ron D. Coffel & Associates has offices in Benton and Harrisburg, IL.
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