Year: 2017

You may know that workers’ compensation benefits are available if you’re injured on the job, but did you know that they may also cover long-term occupational disorders? If your occupation has caused or worsened a disability, chronic illness, or impairment, you may be able to pursue a workers’ compensation claim. What Is an Occupational Disease? Under the Iowa Workers’ Compensation statute, occupational…

Iowa workers’ compensation provides benefits, including medical expenses, lost wages, temporary or permanent disability, or other covered expenses, for work-related injuries. One of the advantages of the workers’ compensation system is that it provides benefits regardless of who is at fault for a workplace injury. However, the benefits you receive from workers’ comp may not fully compensate you for significant…

In May 2017, Iowa’s new Medical Cannabidiol Act made it legal to use cannabis to treat certain debilitating medical conditions. Many conditions that are covered under the Act, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, can be managed and treated for many years; as a result, many regular users of medical marijuana will likely remain in the workplace. If an employee…

In case the unthinkable happens and a loved one dies as a result of a work injury, the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage provides benefits to survivors under Iowa law. While nothing can fully compensate you for your loss, these benefits can help you pay some of the unexpected expenses and help with the additional financial burdens you may face.…

If you’ve been injured on the job, the Iowa workers’ compensation system provides benefits for expenses such as medical costs, lost wages, temporary or permanent disability, and other covered expenses. Sometimes, however, these benefits don’t fully compensate you for your injuries. In certain circumstances, it may be possible for you to recover compensation for your injuries from sources other than workers’ comp.…

When you file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits after an on-the-job injury or work-related condition, the process often involves a deposition. A deposition is an opportunity for the attorneys representing your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier to ask you questions about your injury or illness, your treatment, your impairment, and other matters related to your claim. It’s normal to…

When you are injured on the job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage provides benefits that can include medical care and ongoing treatment. Your employer (and its insurance carrier) assigns one or more appropriate treatment providers for your medical needs (e.g., an orthopedist, physical therapist, or other skilled professional). Rather than reimbursing you for out-of-pocket payments, the carrier handles payment…

Although worker compensation settlement is intended to allow employees who are injured at work to receive compensation more quickly and easily than filing a lawsuit, the claims process can be complicated. A work comp claim can be delayed, rejected, or denied for a variety of reasons. 1. Delay in Reporting The first step in obtaining Iowa workers’ comp benefits is to…

Imagine you’re having lunch with your boss and a new client. Everyone has a glass of wine or a cocktail, and you talk about the new account and your projections for the year. Towards the end of the meal, you excuse yourself and head to the restroom. As you are rounding a corner, a picture falls off the wall and…

When you suffer a work-related injury and seek workers’ compensation in Iowa, your employer may choose where to receive care for your injury. If there is a disagreement with the treating physician’s evaluation of your condition, however, an independent medical exam (IME) can help to resolve it. An IME can be requested by an insurance company, but an employer, the…