Waterloo Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
What to Do If You Are Injured at Work
Nearly all workers in the state of Iowa are entitled to workers’ compensation when they are injured at work or while carrying out any duties related to their employment. The state mandates that all employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance (with very few exceptions). Because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, you do not need to show that your employer or any other party was negligent in order to receive benefits. However, there are several important things you must do, including a number of applicable deadlines to meet, in order to ensure a successful outcome.
If you have been injured on the job, talking with a lawyer can help you understand your rights under Iowa’s workers' compensation and personal injury laws. At Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., we can help. Our Waterloo workers’ compensation attorneys represent injured workers throughout the state, providing personalized legal guidance in a variety of workers’ comp and third-party work injury matters. We serve workers across a variety of industries, including those injured in meat packing plants, manufacturing facilities, factories, offices, retail and grocery stores, and other workplaces throughout Iowa.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our team today to learn how we can help you get back on your feet after a workplace accident, injury, or illness. Call (319) 220-0416. We offer representation for clients in Iowa City, Waterloo and the rest of the state.
Important Workers’ Compensation Timelines in Iowa
After a work-related accident leaves you injured, it’s important that you act immediately to protect your rights. You must notify your employer of the injury within 90 days and you have two years from the date of the accident/injury to receive your workers’ compensation benefit. If you suffered a work-related illness, the clock begins ticking on the date on which you became aware of (or reasonably should have become aware of) the fact that your condition was work-related.
If you need to request additional benefits, you have a three-year timeframe to do so.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available?
Qualifying individuals can receive the following workers’ compensation benefits:
- Medical Care: This includes all costs associated with necessary and reasonable medical treatment, including travel expenses to and from doctors’ appointments.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): TTD benefits are wage-replacement benefits meant to compensation injured workers who are unable to work due to a total disability.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): These wage-replacement benefits compensate injured employees who are only able to work in a partial capacity.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): These benefits are available to employees who suffer a permanent disability, rendering them unable to ever return to work.
Additionally, if an employee dies in a work-related accident, surviving family members may be able to recover death benefits. These benefits include compensation for burial costs and other specified expenses, but, unlike in wrongful death claims, they do not compensate for non-economic damages.
Many people experience problems with workers' compensation, whether during the initial claims filing process or because their claim has been denied.
Often, injured workers have trouble paying bills for a few reasons:
- They cannot work
- They have been put on light or restricted duty
- Their workers' compensation claim has been denied
If you are currently facing financial challenges due to a work-related injury or illness, call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. and speak to our Waterloo workers’ compensation attorneys. We can help you file a workers' compensation claim or appeal a claim that has been denied.
Sometimes, your work injury is more than a workers' compensation issue. When the injury was caused by defective equipment or by another third party, you could be entitled to compensation through a third-party work injury claim. Our attorneys can represent you in a separate personal injury action.
A Reputation for Success
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. is well-respected in the community and has earned an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating available through the organization’s peer rating system. We are dedicated to helping our clients get the best possible results in workers' compensation and personal injury matters.
Reach out to our workers’ comp attorneys today for a free consultation: (319) 220-0416. Based in Waterloo and Iowa City, we serve injured workers throughout the state of Iowa.
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