Workers Compensation in Iowa
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Iowa state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Iowa workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Iowa?
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private employers in Iowa reported 35,900 nonfatal workplace incidents in 2018. In 2019, manufacturing companies had the highest number of work injuries in The Hawkeye State. Sprains, strains, and tears represent 33.4% of the cases in this data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Employees in Iowa lost 295,180 working days in 2019 alone due to getting hurt on the job.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Iowa?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Iowa workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
While Iowa requires most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance, some may not comply with the law. Benefits include reimbursement for medical costs (including lost wages and mileage) and disability compensation up to 80% of your weekly take-home pay. Many employers have an exempt status for workers, but the details are intricate, and questions about specific industries should go to a Workers’ Compensation Compliance Administrator.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Iowa are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Iowa healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
Iowa gives employees injured on the job two years to apply for workers’ compensation. Any attempts to obtain benefits after that time will likely result in a denial. After seeking medical attention, report the injury to your employer. If a work injury has kept an employee down for longer than three days, the employer and its insurance company must file a First Report of Injury within four working days. After you have your case number, you will need to e-file documentation relevant to your injury to the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Contents of the Report
The First Report of Injury will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the necessary details. They must know your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any witnesses.
If an employee does not file for additional benefits within three years of receiving their last payment, that may result in a denial of their claim.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Many people believe that the injury claims process is straightforward. While this may be the case in some instances, it may be more of a hassle.
For instance, your employer may question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. The company may also start to question the extent of your injury.
Don’t question how workers comp works and risk losing your claim. Hire a Iowa workers’ comp lawyer and ensure you have an advocate to fight for your rights.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Iowa
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Iowa state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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