Hurt on the Job? Don't Settle for Less.
Illinois workers' comp law gives you medical care, lost wages and a settlement for permanent injury. Marker Law makes sure you actually get all of it.
What Workers' Compensation Should Cover
If you were injured at work in Illinois, your employer's insurance company is required by law to pay your medical bills, two-thirds of your lost wages, and a settlement for any permanent disability. Carriers routinely deny, delay or lowball legitimate claims. Marker Law forces them to pay.
- Denied or delayed claims — get benefits restored
- Choice of doctor and second medical opinions
- TTD (temporary total disability) lost-wage checks
- Permanency settlements — PPD, wage differential, T&P
- Section 19(b) emergency hearings when carriers stall
Union & Trade Workers, You're in the Right Place
A large share of our workers' comp clients are union and trade workers — carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, laborers, drivers and operating engineers. Marker Law attorneys understand union benefit interactions, return-to-work disputes and the specific way job-site injuries play out in Illinois.
Talk to an Attorney — Free ConsultWhy Illinois Has Workers' Compensation
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act has protected injured workers since 1917. Here is what it guarantees you — and who is really on the other side.
Before 1917, a hurt worker had to file a lawsuit against their employer and prove negligence just to recover anything — and most lost. Illinois replaced that with a no-fault system: when you are injured on the job, you are automatically entitled to benefits, with no need to prove your employer did anything wrong.
Make no mistake about who is on the other side. It is the multi-billion-dollar insurance industry — not your employer personally — that pays your lost-time checks, your medical bills and your final settlement. Their job is to pay as little as possible and put obstacles in your path, and for decades they have lobbied to chip these benefits away.
The Act is exacting, from how fast you report the accident to which doctors you may choose. A single misstep can cost you the care and money you are owed. Marker Law attorneys shoulder that burden so you can concentrate on healing.
Three Benefits the Law Guarantees
- Lost wages — two-thirds of your average weekly wage while a doctor keeps you off work or on restrictions
- Medical care — payment for all reasonable treatment related to your injury, through to maximum medical improvement
- A permanency settlement — compensation for the lasting effect of the injury once your treatment is done
When Should You Hire an Attorney?
From a legal standpoint there is never a bad time to have a lawyer on your side — but these are the moments injured workers most often reach out.
Your employer won't file the claim
If they tell you "you're fine" or "we'll just cover the bills" instead of opening a claim with their insurer, that is a signal they are trying to save money — and the delay can seriously damage your case.
The company doctor keeps you working
Company clinics rarely take you fully off work; light duty too soon can worsen your injury and hand the insurer ammunition later. Remember: you always have the right to your own doctor.
You're sent to an "IME"
When the carrier orders an independent medical exam, they have picked a doctor they work with. It usually means they are about to fight your claim or cut off your benefits. Call before you go.
Your claim is denied
A denial is not the last word. Many are based on invalid grounds and get overturned before the Commission once the right medical evidence is developed.
You've finished treatment
Whether you return to work or are left with permanent restrictions, you are owed a settlement. Insurers rarely volunteer it — and represented clients recover about 10% more on average, even after fees.
The safest answer: early
Every one of these situations is easier to fix before it snowballs. A free consultation costs nothing and there is no fee unless we win.
Common Work Injuries — By Body Part
We have handled injuries to every part of the body. These are the ones we see most, and why getting to the right specialist early matters so much.
Back & Spine
The most common work injuries — from sprains and strains to bulging or herniated discs and fractured vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. When a disc presses on a nerve it causes radiating arm or leg pain (radiculopathy). Care climbs from physical therapy to injections to discectomy or fusion, and permanent restrictions often follow.
Shoulder
The rotator cuff, labrum and biceps tendon can tear from a single force. X-rays miss ligament damage — an MRI is essential, and company clinics often stall on approving one. Treatment runs from therapy and injections to rotator-cuff repair and biceps tenodesis.
Knee
The meniscus, ACL and MCL take the load every time you stand, walk or pivot. An MRI shows the damage, and a work injury can accelerate existing arthritis. Options range from therapy and injections to meniscectomy, ligament repair or, in severe cases, knee replacement.
Nerve Injuries — Carpal & Cubital Tunnel
Direct or repetitive trauma can compress the nerves running down the arm. An EMG/NCV test pinpoints whether the problem sits at the neck, elbow or wrist. Surgery — a carpal-tunnel release, cubital-tunnel release or ulnar-nerve transposition — frees the nerve, though residual pain or weakness can remain.
Hand & Finger
Trigger finger, TFCC tears, CMC (thumb) joint injuries and Guyon's canal injuries. The hand is intricate and easily undervalued, so a precise diagnosis from the right specialist is critical.
Foot & Ankle
Fractures, ATFL (ankle ligament) tears and Achilles-tendon injuries that can keep you off your feet — and off the job — for months, and are frequently downplayed by the carrier.
Injured a part of the body not listed here? We have handled it. Tell us what happened.
The Timeline of a Workers' Comp Case
Every case is different — an undisputed claim often resolves in about eight months, while a disputed one can take up to three years. Here is the general path.
Report the Injury
Notify your employer as soon as possible. Illinois law allows up to 45 days, but the sooner the better.
Get Medical Care
See a doctor immediately — the longer the gap, the more the insurer will question it. Most injuries take four to six months to treat.
Time Off Work (TTD)
If your doctor keeps you off, we pursue temporary total disability — two-thirds of your average weekly wage. Workers are off about three months on average.
Release & Records
Once you are released or reach maximum medical improvement, we order the full set of medical records and bills — usually about two months.
Settlement or Trial
We value your case and negotiate; most settle two to three months after the records arrive. If the insurer won't pay fairly, we move for trial.
Trial & Appeals
A workers' comp trial is heard by an Arbitrator, with appeals available to the Commission, the Circuit Court and — rarely — the Appellate or Supreme Court.
25+ Years of Recognition
Frequently Asked Questions
Straightforward answers to the questions Marker Law clients ask most often about this topic.
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Tell us what happened. We want to help, and there is never a fee for a consult with us.