For the Tradesman Who Got Hurt on the Job.
Marker Law represents Illinois carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, laborers, operating engineers and other union members in workers' comp and third-party injury claims.
We Know Union Work — and Union Benefits
Trade workers face higher injury rates and more complex claims. Union benefit funds, return-to-work disputes, third-party general-contractor liability — these are the moving parts most non-specialist attorneys miss. Marker Law handles all of it.
- Workers' comp benefits — medical, TTD, PPD, settlement
- Third-party claims against negligent general contractors
- Construction-site fall, scaffold and Section 9 cases
- Return-to-work and modified-duty disputes
- Union pension, health-and-welfare interactions
Your Union Has Your Back — But Usually Not on This
A serious injury that threatens your ability to return to your trade is exactly when the stakes are highest. Your local may have a steward, or an attorney on call for contract questions — but most union attorneys do not handle the workers' compensation system day to day. It is a specialized field of law, and the wrong guidance early can cost you dearly.
Stronger job protection
Union representation can help protect your job while you recover, making it harder for an employer to push you out during a claim.
Bargained benefits
Unions often negotiate better workers' comp benefits and added protections that can work to your advantage in a case.
The weight of a major local
Locals like the Carpenters, Plumbers & Pipefitters, IUOE Local 150, IBEW and SEIU Healthcare Illinois bring real resources when a member is hurt on the job.
Legal support has limits
The attorneys a union works with may not have the trial experience to handle a complex work-injury case and push for the full compensation you deserve.
Insurance won't cover it all
Comp insurance rarely covers every cost of a serious injury. A dedicated lawyer can pursue the additional compensation you are entitled to.
Where Marker Law comes in
Even with union backing, the insurer's job is to save money and minimize your benefits. Our attorneys make sure your case is fully explored and your compensation maximized.
The Benefits You're Owed as an Injured Union Member
Outside of a death case, Illinois law gives an injured worker three core benefits. For a tradesman, the "loss of trade" settlement is often the one that matters most.
Medical Treatment
The employer's comp carrier must pay for all treatment your doctor recommends that is related to the injury — through to maximum medical improvement, when your doctor releases you from care.
Lost Wages
If your doctor takes you off work for more than three days, you are entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wage. If you are placed on light duty and the employer can accommodate it, you return at your regular rate; if they cannot, the two-thirds benefit continues.
A Permanency Settlement
Every on-the-job injury is worth something. Depending on your recovery, that means a percentage of the injured body part, a wage-differential / loss-of-trade award to age 67 if you can no longer do your union job, or lifetime benefits if you are permanently disabled from any work.
A permanent restriction that keeps you off your trade is a serious situation — often with vocational rehabilitation and a lifetime wage-loss calculation involved. Let's talk it through.
The Credentials Behind the Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Straightforward answers to the questions Marker Law clients ask most often about this topic.
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