First responder who has been
injured or disabled in the line of
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Attorney For First Responders

Serving all of Illinois

 

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission passed and emergency amendment making it easier for COVID-19 “first responders” and “front line workers” in Illinois to receive workers’ compensation benefits due to an injury or inability to work because of exposure to the COVID-19 virus during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Contact us today if you need an attorney for first responders.

Fire Injury Attorney

Are you a firefighter in Illinois that has been injured on duty? Are you looking for an attorney to assist you in maximizing the firefighter benefits you are entitles to? Learn more about those benefits and talk to Brent Eames regarding your injury.

Police Injury Attorney

Illinois Police officers injured in the line of duty are entitled to benefits. Are you an injured police officer looking to get an understanding of the police benefits in your juristiction? Talk to Brent Eames about how to utilize all of the benefits available to you.

OUR EXPERTISE

Serving all of Illinois

Firefighter & Police Benefits For Those Injured In the Line-of-Duty

If you are a police officer or firefighter who was injured in the Line-Of-Duty and do not know where to start looking for relief? Are you in need of fire or police benefits? Watch our video to see how an attorney for first responders can help you!

Public Safety Employee Benefit Act

Public Employee Disability Act

Workers’ Compensation Act

Disability Pensions

Illinois Pension Code

The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (820 ILCS 320/1) is an Illinois law which provides for the payment of the full premium of an employer’s health insurance plan for any firefighter, police officer or paramedic who suffers a catastrophic injury or is killed in the line of duty.

The Public Employees Disability Act (PEDA) is an Illinois law which provides financial protection for firefighters, police officers and paramedics who suffer the misfortune of being injured in the line of duty.

Most police officers, firefighters and paramedics in Illinois who suffer a work-related injury are entitled to apply for and receive benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers’ Copensation Act.

The Illinois Pension Code contains special provisions providing benefits to first responders who have become disabled and can no longer perform their professional duties. The Code contains provisions providing benefits for both disabilities which result from line-of-duty incidents, as well as not-on-duty incidents.

The Illinois Pension Code contains special provisions providing benefits to police officers and firefighters who become disabled and can no longer perform their professional duties

Ensuring Police and Firefighters Receive The Compenstation, Benefits, and Pensions They Deserve

Featured in the Chicago Tribune, Yahoo News, and CBS, attorney Brent Eames has built a reputation representing Chicago’s police officers and firefighters in pension and benefit disputes.

Top Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys
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we help you?

Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns regarding your injury, your case, and your options!

Illinois Police & Fire Injuries

Fighting For Our First Responders

Are you a first responder in Illinois? Are you needing fire or police benefits? We specialize in fighting for the rights for the people who serve our community.

First Responders We've Helped

“Attorney Brent Eames earned a victory for an injured client before the Workers’ Compensation Commission which included an additional award of over $17,000.00 for penalties and attorney’s fees against the insurance company for what the Arbitrator ruled was unreasonable and vexatious behavior.”

“Attorney Brent Eames represented an injured worker who suffered bilateral knee injuries caused by his work activities. The Petitioner underwent surgery to each injured knee and was disabled from working for 67 weeks. Mr. Eames successfully argued and established that the petitioner’s injuries are causally connected to his work activities thereby securing an award exceeded $225,000.00 in related benefits.”

“Attorney Brent Eames, along with other attorneys of Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd., were featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin for their recent $2,250,000 recovery in Rock Island County. Based on recent jury verdict/settlement research, Mr. Eames obtained one of the largest annual recoveries for an automobile negligence victim in Rock Island County.”

“After his client suffered injuries to both of his hands on the job, requiring surgeries, Mr. Eames brought the claim to hearing before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The insurance company argued the injuries were the result of unrelated issues; the injured worker was capable of full-duty work; and the surgeries were not medically necessary. At hearing, the Arbitrator agreed with the insurance company. However, Mr. Eames filed an immediate appeal, arguing to the reviewing Commission that the Arbitrator’s decision was against the greater weight of the evidence. Commissioners agreed, reversing the decision of the Arbitrator and awarding all claimed benefits to the injured worker. These benefits include payment for all related medical expenses (past and future) and over a year of disability pay.”

As an attorney for first responders,

We help firefighters, police and EMT get the benefits and treatment they need for injuries.

While many occupations come with serious risks of severe injury and death for employees, almost none can match the inherent dangers which police officers, firefighters or paramedics face in the ordinary course of their employment on a day-to-day basis. Few jobs are as physically demanding as a first responder as the line of duty frequently requires intense physical exertion on an emergency basis at a moment’s notice. Whether it is lifting a 300-pound patient or chasing a fleeing suspect, when duty calls, the body and mind can pay the price.

Due to the physical, mental and emotional sacrifices made by police officers, firefighters and paramedics for the benefit of our society, the Illinois legislature has drafted many wonderful laws to benefit first responders who suffer injuries in the course of serving and protecting the citizens of Illinois. These laws, including the Illinois Pension Code, the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Public Employee Disability Act, and the Public Safety Employee Benefit Act,  just to name a few, all provide different fire and police benefits for qualifying first responders who suffer injuries or death in the course of their employment. In many cases, an injured first responder may qualify for benefits under all four of these laws.

Public Employees Disability Act

The Public Employees Disability Act (PEDA) is an Illinois law which provides financial protection for firefighters, police officers and paramedics who suffer the misfortune of being injured in the line of duty. Injured first responders who qualify for fire and police benefits under the PEDA are entitled to receive their full salary paied to them from the duration of their disability up to a total of 52 weeks.

PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ACT

The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (820 ILCS 320/1) is an Illinois law which provides for the payment of the full premium of an employer’s health insurance plan for any firefighter, police officer or paramedic who suffers a catastrophic injury or is killed in the line of duty.  This benefit is also provided for the injured or deceased employee’s spouse and any dependent children. 

Illinois Pension Code

The Illinois Pension Code contains special provisions providing benefits to police officers and firefighters who become disabled and can no longer perform their professional duties. The code contains provisions providing both police benefits and firefighter benefits disabilities which result from line-of-duty incidents, as well as not-on-duty causes. Injured employees are entitled to be represented by counsel during these proceedings, as they are often adversarial.

Workers' Compensation Act

Most police officers, firefighters and paramedics in Illinois who suffer a work-related injury are entitled to apply for and receive benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers’ Copensation Act. This includes payment of medical expenses, payment of temporary disability benefits while recovering from their injury, and an appropriate award for permanent impairment as a result of the injury.

Brent Eames

Attorney for First Responders

There are multiple overlapping laws which all provide unique fire and police benefits and all carry different requirements for police officers, firefighters and other first responders.  It is extremely important for an injured police officer, firefighter or paramedic to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney for first responders who understands each law in order to maximize the potential benefits which the laws provide you.

If you have become injured and you believe it may be related to your job duties, you should contact attorney Brent Eames for a free consultation.

Illinois Police & Fire Injury Info

Check out our articles, news, and information! Learn more about the work we do, people we help, and cases we win.