A serious foot injury can disrupt every part of your life. Beyond the pain, you may be unable to stand, walk, or perform the duties your job requires. That often means missed paychecks, mounting medical bills, and fundamental uncertainty about your future.
Understandably, many workers in this position search for answers about workers’ comp foot injury settlements. How much is a foot injury worth in a workers’ comp settlement?
The answer is that it depends. Workers’ comp settlements are not one-size-fits-all, and the type of injury will shape the value of your case, how it affects your mobility, whether surgery is required, and whether you can return to your job.
Marker Law, LLC is an award-winning law firm that is well respected in the Naperville community for guiding injured workers through the workers’ compensation system and fighting for fair settlements.
This article will explain how workers’ comp foot injury settlements are calculated, what factors matter most, and why legal guidance is essential in these cases.
Contact us today at 331-295-8005 to discuss your case and learn how we can help you.
What Is the Process of Receiving Workers’ Comp for a Foot Injury?
Workers’ compensation is designed to cover two main things when you suffer a work-related foot injury: medical expenses and lost wages. Medical expenses include emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, and medication. Lost wages are handled a little differently.
Two types of benefits compensate for lost wages in Illinois workers’ comp cases: temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent partial disability (PPD). Both provide income replacement, but they apply at different stages of your recovery.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) While Recovering from a Foot Injury
If your foot injury prevents you from working while recovering, you may receive TTD benefits. These payments equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW), subject to state maximums and minimums.
You receive TTD while you are under active treatment and have not yet been cleared by your doctor to return to work. Once your doctor says you have healed enough to return to work or have recovered as much as you’re going to (known as maximum medical improvement), TTD benefits end.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) for Foot Injury Permanent Impairment Settlement
Not every foot injury heals completely. If your injury leaves you with lasting problems, such as chronic pain, stiffness, or difficulty standing for long periods, then you may qualify for a permanent partial disability (PPD) settlement.
Take an example of a workers’ comp settlement for a foot fracture. A warehouse worker earns $900 per week. They drop a heavy box on their foot, causing multiple fractures. After months of treatment and receiving benefits for lost wages (TTD) and medical expenses, the doctor says the foot has healed as much as it ever will. The worker can walk, but there is ongoing stiffness and pain. Here is how this worker’s benefits could be determined:
- Impairment rating. The doctor assigns a percentage of “loss of use” for the worker’s foot. The worker lost 20% of their foot’s function.
- Schedule of injuries. Illinois law assigns each body part a maximum number of weeks. A foot is worth 167 weeks.
- Apply the percentage. Multiply 167 weeks by the impairment rating. Here, 20% × 167 weeks = 33.4 weeks.
- Weekly wage rate. The PPD benefit rate is 60% of the average weekly wage.
- Settlement amount. Multiply the weeks by the PPD rate to determine the settlement. Here, multiply the PPD rate of $540 ($900 times 60%) by 33.4 weeks = $18,036 foot injury permanent impairment settlement.
This process helps workers left with permanent damage from a foot injury receive compensation that reflects both their income and the lasting impact of the injury.
Why You Need a Lawyer to Guide You
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts by undervaluing the impact of your injury. They may argue that your impairment is less severe than your doctor says, or push for a quick settlement that does not account for future medical costs.
An experienced workers’ comp attorney can work for your settlement to reflect the impact of your foot injury. Marker Law, LLC will fight to:
- Collect the medical evidence needed to support your claim,
- Work with doctors to document the extent of your limitations,
- Calculate both present and future wage loss, and
- Negotiate aggressively with insurers to pursue the compensation you deserve.
With a strong local reputation in Naperville, Marker Law, LLC has the knowledge and commitment to help you secure a fair outcome.
FAQs: How Much Is a Foot Injury Worth & More
Here are common questions about workers’ comp foot injury settlements.
How Much Can I Get for a Foot Injury at Work?
There isn’t a fixed dollar amount for a workers’ comp foot injury settlement. The value depends on the details of your case, including:
- How severe the injury is,
- Whether surgery is required,
- Any permanent damage,
- How the injury affects your ability to work, and
- Your age and job type.
Because every injury and worker is different, settlement amounts can vary widely.
How Much Should I Settle for a Leg Injury?
There isn’t a single “right” number for a leg injury settlement. The value depends on the type of injury, how much permanent damage you have, your average weekly wage, and how the injury affects your ability to work.
Because these factors vary so much from case to case, it’s imperative to work with a workers’ comp lawyer who can review your medical records, calculate the correct benefits, and make sure the insurance company doesn’t undervalue your claim.
What Is the Most You Can Get from a Workers’ Comp Settlement?
There is no universal maximum amount for a workers’ comp settlement. The value depends on the specific facts of your case. Talking to a lawyer is the best way to understand the potential amount of compensation for your situation.
Protect Your Recovery After a Foot Injury
A foot injury may seem small compared to other workplace injuries, but it can significantly change your life. From walking to working, mobility is at the core of everything you do. Workers’ comp settlements for foot injuries provide the financial security you need to recover and move forward.
The team at Marker Law, LLC, has over two decades of legal experience and strives to make clients feel heard, supported, and fairly compensated for injuries.
If you have questions about workers’ comp foot injury settlements, contact Marker Law, LLC today for a free case evaluation.