Have Questions? We Have Answers.
Arm, wrist, or hand injuries at work are commonly referred to as scheduled injury claims. The workers’ compensation statutes contain a schedule, or a list, of body parts with a certain number of weeks assigned to them.
The schedule says the loss of a hand is compensated on the basis of 190 weeks; the loss of an arm on the basis of 250 weeks; and so forth, dealing with the thumb and fingers.
Typically, at the end of a healing period involving a scheduled arm or hand injury at work, a physician provides an impairment rating. This rating is then applied to the respective scheduled loss basis to determine the number of weeks owed to the injured worker as compensation for the permanent injury.
Let's say a hand injury at work results in a ten percent impairment rating by a physician. Since the value of a total loss of a hand is 190 weeks, a ten percent loss is equivalent to 19 weeks of benefits. Typically, the insurance company will then initiate workers' compensation benefits for an additional 19 weeks based upon the physician's impairment rating.
While this basis of compensation seems to be straightforward, it may be in your best interest to review the issue--as well as other workers' compensation issues--with a knowledgeable attorney. Talk with an experienced workers' compensation attorney at Wertz Law Firm for a review of your claim. We'll make sure you are being compensated to the full extent provided by Iowa law.