My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Illinois
Just a couple quick questions.
I drive a truck overnights for a living. About 4 months ago I was involved in an accident with a drunk driver, who also had drugs in his system. Sadly, that driver passed away. My employer put me on paid leave until everything got worked out since they are afraid of lawsuits. Since there was a fatality involved, and no witnesses other than me, it became a criminal investigation. Long story short, I've been cleared as my involvement was non-preventable. I had to give up phone records, etc to prove I was not distracted.
However, my company has kept me on paid leave for 4 months, and now they just laid me off. The investigator originally told my company that firing me was illegal at the time it happened. What would he know though?
Was I wrongfully terminated? And when can I apply for unemployment benefits? I've never collected unemployment before.

