Des Moines Workplace Injury Attorneys
Contact Us for Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workers’ compensation provides financial benefits to employees who are injured while performing their work-related obligations. At dangerous workplaces such as construction sites, workplace injuries are especially common. However, injuries can occur in any environment and leave the victim with physical pain and financial stress. When an injury is severe enough to warrant several days to several weeks off work, an employee may be financially destitute due to lost wages. If you have been wrongfully denied workers’ compensation benefits following a work-related injury, you may be eligible to appeal this and fight for your benefits.
Support for Injured Workers
At LaMarca Law Group, P.C., our job injury lawyers in Des Moines understand that sustaining an injury at work can lead to difficult circumstances. Our mission is to help you pursue the financial relief you need to move past your injury and focus on recovery.
Accidents happen. Every year, hundreds of thousands of workers suffer injuries while on the job. Although measures are set in place by both the government and by businesses to protect their employees, many accidents still happen on a regular basis in the workplace. Employers do have a responsibility to keep their workers fundamentally safe from harm and provide adequate safety training and equipment. However, in the event of an accident on the job, workers are often forced to deal with short-term or long-term disability. Thankfully, many workers in Iowa are covered by workers’ compensation insurance through their employers.
We have assisted injured workers in the Des Moines area for years, and we can fight to protect your rights. We have the experience, track record, and client satisfaction to be able to deal with difficult employers so that you can pursue the compensation available to you. We work diligently to help reduce the risk that you or your family face negative long-term financial consequences.
Please call our offices today at (515) 705-0233 to speak with one of our qualified representatives about your situation. We can evaluate your case and serve as your advocates.
Types of Workplace Injuries
Accidents happen all the time, whether or not employees are working at particularly dangerous work sites.
The workplace injury attorneys at LaMarca Law Group, P.C. can help answer your questions about the following:
- Construction accidents
- Head / brain injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Manufacturing accidents
- Transportation accidents
- Employer negligence
- Office injuries
- Spine injuries
- Exposure to toxic substances
Our workers’ compensation lawyers are experienced in pursuing the financial relief available while you recover from your injuries. We understand that some types of injuries can leave you with short- or even long-term health conditions.
Why Do I Need a Workplace Injury Attorney?
A workplace injury may have a lasting effect on your life and your livelihood. Following a workplace injury, you may have questions about the path forward and your legal options. How can I pay my medical bills? Who is responsible for the damages? How long will I be out of work? Do I need an attorney? As an injured victim in Iowa, you may be legally entitled to compensation that can cover some of the expenses that have been thrust upon you, through no fault of your own.
As far too many workers discover every year, getting compensation for a job-related injury can be much more difficult than it should be. Workers with legitimate injuries see their claims unfairly denied, delayed, or severely reduced. Obtaining the services of a skilled attorney can help you safeguard your rights by properly filing required paperwork or appealing an unjust decision on your claim.
Iowa Job Injury Reporting & Filing Deadlines
Iowa workers’ compensation deadlines can affect a job injury claim. An injured worker generally must notify an employer within 90 days of the injury or of learning that a condition is work-related. This can be especially important for a repetitive motion injury, work-related illness, or other occupational condition that develops over time.
Filing deadlines can also depend on whether disability benefits have been paid. In general, a petition may need to be filed within two years of the injury when no disability benefits have been paid, while a claim for additional benefits may involve a three-year period from the last weekly benefit payment. Exceptions and the facts of a particular claim can affect how these time limits apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you were injured on the job or got sick due to workplace conditions, you probably have a lot of questions. We have included the following frequently asked questions to help you understand your rights.
Can I Receive Wages While I Am Recovering from My Injury?
If you are one of the many Iowa employees covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, you may be eligible to receive wage-loss benefits while you handle your injury. Under Iowa law, there is a 3-day waiting period before wage-loss benefits begin. Workers who need more than 14 days off to recover may have that waiting period waived, meaning benefits would be paid back to the first day of missed work. Benefit availability depends on the facts of the injury, work status, medical evidence, and Iowa workers’ compensation rules.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
It is essential for employees to understand the term “workers’ compensation,” especially if they work in a potentially dangerous environment. Those who are employed in construction or mining, for example, should familiarize themselves with this term and what it means. Workers’ compensation is a phrase that describes the insurance plan that all companies should have in place for any of their employees who happen to suffer an on-the-job injury.
Can Workers’ Compensation Cover Any Bills After Being Injured?
Workers’ compensation can cover:
- Medical costs related to your injury
- Work wages lost to recovery time
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Benefits for permanent bodily damage
- Benefits to your family if you die due to a workplace injury
- Travel costs for vocational rehabilitation services and medical care
How Do I Know If My Type of Injury on the Job Would Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?
Whatever the nature of the injury or illness, if it happened on the job, it may be covered by workers’ compensation depending on the facts of the claim. It’s important to remember that your employer does not need to be at fault for creating unsafe conditions or allowing dangerous behavior. You could receive benefits even if the accident occurred without any discernible cause. However, employers and insurance companies have been known to deny legitimate claims unjustly.