Cedar Rapids Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Proud Advocates for Injured Workers in Iowa
Did you get injured at work? You might think that your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance provider will help you get the care and benefits that you need to recover comfortably. But you might be mistaken. Both parties stand to lose finances if your claim is successful, so they might fight you every step of the way.
The moment you need help with a workers’ compensation claim in Cedar Rapids, pick up the phone and dial (515) 705-0233. You will connect with LaMarca Law Group, P.C. and our team of workers’ comp lawyers. We have the experience and talents needed to take a legal fight up in your name when you do need help more than ever before.
We help workers from all industries in Cedar Rapids, such as:
- Law enforcement
- Firefighting
- Healthcare
- Education
- Transportation
- Retail
- Foodservice
- Office work
Whether you work for Rockwell Collins, Inc., St. Luke’s Hospital, Hy-Vee Food Stores, or another large employer in Cedar Rapids, we want to be the legal team to help you. Explore your workers’ compensation options with our team and feel more confident about your recovery and future again.
On This Page
- Common Workplace Injuries
- Workers’ Compensation Benefits
- Choose the Law Firm That Fights for You
- Frequently Asked Questions
For more information about filing for workers’ comp, contact our firm onlinenow.
Common Workplace Injuries
Our law firm has been there to help people from all sorts of industries who have suffered all types of serious workplace injuries. You do not need to scramble to find a legal team that will understand your case and all of its details. Work with LaMarca Law Group, P.C., and take comfort in knowing that an experienced group is working on your behalf. We want to secure full workers’ comp benefits, so you can recover well, regardless of your injury and its severity.
Many workers’ compensation clients suffer from:
- Lower back injuries: Back injuries caused by falls from heights or constantly lifting heavy objects are quite common in workers’ compensation cases.
- Joint injuries: Incorrect lifting techniques can cause sudden and painful joint injuries, like a knee, ankle, hip, or elbow injury.
- Repetitive motion injuries: Completing the same motion again and again can cause a repetitive motion injury or repetitive stress injury (RSI). A common RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome among office workers who use a keyboard 40+ hours a week.
- Head injuries: Blows to the head are extremely dangerous and need to be taken seriously by workers and employers alike. Construction settings put workers at a higher than average risk of a head or brain injury.
- Toxic exposures: Working around unsafe chemicals and substances can put a worker at risk of falling ill or suffering another exposure-related injury, especially if the substances are not stored correctly.
- Occupational diseases: Healthcare workers must work around highly contagious patients nearly every day. Catching an illness, virus, or disease due to your job can make you eligible for workers’ compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The purpose of workers’ compensation is to get you back on your feet and working again as soon as possible. It does this by removing the financial stress from your recovery and ensuring that you have access to the care that you need. In this way, workers’ compensation benefits the employer and the employee when it is done correctly. The worker recovers without draining their finances and the employer gets their staff to full operations sooner than later.
Three key benefits of workers’ compensation in Iowa are:
- Medical coverage: 100% of all medically necessary treatments should be covered by the workers’ compensation insurance company. Even small co-pays should be provided and not come out of your pocket. Insurers sometimes argue with medical experts about what is “medically necessary” to try to avoid paying more bills, though.
- Wage replacement: When you are unable to work for a week or more, you might be eligible for temporary wage replacement benefits that can last years. If you are permanently disabled due to a work injury, then you can seek permanent disability benefits that are more extensive and can last until retirement.
- Retraining: If you can’t return to work as it was before due to a lasting injury, then your employer might have to provide you with retraining courses and options to work a different job. Sometimes, retraining or vocational rehabilitation benefits even pay for college or university degrees if obtaining one would let you hold gainful employment again.
Choose the Law Firm That Fights for You
You should get workers’ compensation benefits without a fight, but this probably will not be the case. Anticipate some resistance from your employer and/or their insurance provider. Make the first move by teaming up with our Cedar Rapids workers’ comp lawyers. We are here to give you a fair chance at the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait. Call (515) 705-0233 now.
Workers’ Compensation FAQ
When do you have to tell your employer about your workplace injury?
In Iowa, you must tell your employer within 90 days about your workplace accident if you want workers’ comp. However, you should try to tell them on the same day of your injury or the next day at the latest. Waiting too long will complicate your case and delay the help you need.
Can you file a personal injury claim and a workers’ compensation claim for the same injury?
Sometimes, an injured worker will be able to file for workers’ compensation and a personal injury claim. Usually, using workers’ comp bars a worker from suing their employer. But it does not bar them from suing a third party. For example, if you were hit by a drunk driver while delivering food for your job, then you can get workers’ compensation and file an injury claim against the driver for additional and different damages not provided in workers’ comp.
How much do you get paid for workman’s comp in Iowa?
Iowa has a $239 weekly minimum and $1,366 weekly maximum (circa 2022) for wage replacement benefits through workers’ compensation. This number is calculated by taking your average pre-injury salary and reducing it by approximately one-third. For example, if you were making $1,200 a week before you got hurt, then your wage replacement benefit would likely be $800.
Who is exempt from workers’ comp in Iowa?
Domestic and “casual” employees making less than $1,500 a year are exempt from mandatory workers’ compensation coverage in Iowa, as are certain agricultural employees. People working strictly for a relative and not a relative’s business can also be denied workers’ comp coverage. Most commonly, though, independent contractors are not eligible for workers’ comp benefits, only employees are.
