Should Licensed Professionals in Illinois Purchase Professional Liability Insurance?

 Posted on November 23, 2021 in Medical License Defense

It is a given in the medical community that any type of physician should have medical malpractice insurance. In today’s litigious society, with thousands of malpractice lawsuits filed every year, just one malpractice claim against a doctor could destroy them financially, both professionally and personally. However, many other licensed professionals, such as nurses, social workers, and counselors,can also face serious allegations that can impact their career and finances. Yet, many of these professionals do not have any kind of liability insurance to cover the costs of these claims. This is why having professional liability insurance can be a safety net to professional and financial disaster. 

Why You May Need Your Own Policy

Most nurses and social workers are covered under their employers’ liability insurance policies. For example, a nurse who works in a hospital would be covered under that hospital’s policy if a patient filed a malpractice lawsuit and that nurse was one of the parties named in the suit. However, that policy may not cover the cost to that nurse of defending his or her license before the Illinois Board of Nursing for any complaints that may result in that lawsuit.

Another important issue that nurses and social workers should consider is that many complaints that the Board of Nursing and Illinois Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board receive are filed by the licensee’s own employer. These complaints usually occur after the licensee has been terminated from their job. So a nurse or social worker who needs a skilled and experienced Illinois professional license defense attorney to fight these charges with the board is now unemployed and may not have the resources to retain a much-needed attorney.

Professional liability insurance is a type of business insurance that provides coverage for professionals to protect against claims of negligence. In both of the above scenarios, had the licensee purchased and been covered by professional liability insurance, that policy would cover attorney fees and expenses to defend their license against whatever complaints were made against them.

Call an Illinois License Defense Lawyer Today

If you are a licensed professional who has been accused of negligence or other wrongdoing and your professional license is being threatened, do not try to defend yourself against these accusations on your own. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has stringent and complex rules and procedures in these matters that a seasoned Illinois professional license defense attorney knows how to navigate. Even just missing a deadline for filing documentation could result in suspension or revocation of your license. Call The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. today at 630-310-1267 to schedule a free and confidential consultation and find out how our firm can help.

Source:

https://www.idfpr.com/profs/Boards/swork.asp

https://www.idfpr.com/profs/nursing.asp