Workers' Compensation in Iowa

The workers' compensation system in Iowa was set up by the Iowa legislature more than 60 years ago, as a way to make sure that people who suffered injuries on the job are appropriately compensated for their losses. Generally speaking, there are three basic types of benefits available to injured workers: medical care, healing period benefits, and permanency benefits. If you have been hurt on the job, regardless of whose fault the injury is, you have the right to these benefits.

When you are injured on the job, you have a responsibility to report that injury to your employer within 90 days of the injury. However, there are several factors, which may extend this 90-day requirement, especially under circumstances where the injury develops over time or where you do not know about the seriousness of the injury or its relation to your employment. Questions about this issue should be directed to an experienced workers' compensation attorney as soon as possible.

In Iowa, the employer has the right to direct your medical care. This means that they may choose the physician who initially provides treatment for your injury. If any employer-chosen physician recommends treatment or referral to another physician, the employer is generally obligated to provide that treatment or referral. It is quite common for injured workers to experience frustration and difficulty with the medical treatment (or lack of medical treatment), which the employer offers. This may be a sign that your rights are not being honored and you should contact an attorney.

If an employer-chosen physician takes you off work for more than three days, you are entitled to healing period benefits. There are two kinds of healing period benefits: temporary total disability (TTD), and temporary partial disability (TPD).

If you do not have a complete recovery from your injury, you may be entitled to additional benefits, known as permanency benefits or permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. If your injury prevents you from returning to the workforce and earning a sufficient living, you may be entitled to total disability benefits.

There are a number of other issues that can come up in workers' compensation claims, including the weekly benefit amount, mileage reimbursement, and problems with getting proper medical treatment. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions or concerns you have about your work injury.