Des Moines Workers' Compensation Lawyers You Can Count On
A workplace injury can upend your life without warning. You may be dealing with medical bills, lost income and questions about when you can return to work. At Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., our workers’ compensation attorneys have represented injured Iowans since 1950. Our law firm combines substantial legal resources with the personal attention injured workers deserve.
Our workers’ compensation lawyers serve people in Des Moines as well as communities throughout North-Central and Northwest Iowa. If you are unsure what benefits are available or what to do after an injury, our attorneys can help you understand your rights under Iowa workers’ compensation law and determine your next steps.
Common Workplace Injuries We Handle in Des Moines
People work in many different industries throughout the Des Moines area, and workplace hazards can vary considerably from one job to another. Our lawyers help injured workers understand their options after accidents and occupational injuries involving:
- Warehousing and distribution: Delivery accidents, forklift and pallet jack incidents, falling objects, lifting injuries, and slips and falls can leave workers unable to perform physically demanding jobs.
- Insurance and financial services: Office workers may experience repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as neck and back problems associated with their work.
- Healthcare: Healthcare workers may suffer strains while lifting or repositioning patients, falls, exposure-related injuries, or injuries caused by aggressive or disoriented patients.
- Manufacturing and food processing: Heavy machinery can cause crushing injuries, cuts and amputations. Workers may also experience lifting injuries, repetitive motion injuries and hearing loss.
Other workers can be hurt in construction accidents, transportation incidents, falls and many other situations. Regardless of your occupation, a Des Moines workers’ compensation lawyer can review what happened and explain whether workers’ compensation benefits may be available.
How Workers' Compensation Can Help After an Injury
Iowa’s workers’ compensation system can provide benefits when an employee suffers a qualifying work-related injury. Depending on the circumstances, those benefits may include reasonable and necessary medical care and disability benefits when an injury prevents you from working or leaves you with a lasting impairment.
The process is not always straightforward. Disagreements may arise over whether an injury is work-related, what medical treatment is appropriate, whether you can return to work or the extent of a permanent impairment. Our attorneys can evaluate those issues and help you pursue the benefits available under Iowa law.
Working with a law firm can also be especially important when a serious injury affects your ability to earn a living. Our workers’ compensation lawyers can handle communications and legal issues related to your claim while you focus on your health and your family.
When a Third Party Shares Responsibility for Your Injury
Workers’ compensation is not necessarily the only potential source of compensation after an on-the-job injury. Sometimes a person or business other than your employer contributes to an accident. This is known as a third party.
For example, you might be injured by a negligent driver while working, hurt by defective equipment or harmed because of dangerous conditions on property controlled by someone else. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a personal injury claim arising from your workplace accident in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
These claims involve different legal rules and may provide different forms of compensation. Our law office can examine the circumstances surrounding your injury and determine whether another person or company may share responsibility.
Why Work With a Workers' Compensation Lawyer?
An injury claim can become complicated when your employer or its insurance carrier questions what happened or disputes the benefits you should receive. An attorney can review medical records and other evidence, communicate with the insurer and help you understand the decisions you may face throughout the claim.
Legal representation can also be valuable when your condition changes or you are told that you can return to work before you believe you are ready. Our lawyers can help you understand the workers’ compensation process and address disputes that arise along the way.
At The Johnson Law Firm, we understand that injured workers are often worried about more than paperwork. An injury may affect your paycheck, your ability to support your family and the work you have done for years. Our law firm approaches these cases with that reality in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa Workers' Compensation for Des Moines Workers
Workers often have questions about deadlines, medical treatment and what happens when an insurance carrier challenges a claim. The following answers provide a starting point. Because every injury is different, a workers’ compensation attorney can explain how Iowa law applies to your circumstances.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Iowa?
Deadlines can depend on the circumstances of the claim. In general, Iowa law provides a two-year limitation period for commencing workers’ compensation proceedings after an injury. If weekly compensation benefits have been paid, a three-year limitation period may apply after the last payment of weekly compensation benefits.
Other deadlines can also affect a workers’ compensation matter, so waiting can create unnecessary problems. A lawyer can review the dates involved in your case and determine which deadlines apply.
What Should I Do After a Workplace Injury in Des Moines?
Notify your employer about the injury as soon as reasonably possible and get appropriate medical attention. Keep information related to the accident, treatment and communications concerning your claim. Iowa has notice requirements for workplace injuries, so delaying a report may affect your ability to obtain benefits.
If you are uncertain about what an insurer is asking you to do or whether your claim is being handled correctly, talk with an attorney about your situation before making decisions that could affect your case.
Can I Choose My Own Doctor for a Workers' Compensation Injury in Iowa?
In Iowa, the employer generally has the right to choose the medical care for a compensable work injury. However, workers may have options when they are dissatisfied with the care being provided, and an injured worker may be entitled to an independent medical evaluation in certain circumstances.
The rules surrounding medical care can depend on the facts of the claim. Our workers’ compensation lawyers can explain your options if you have concerns about the treatment you are receiving.
What Happens if My Employer Disputes My Workers' Compensation Claim?
A disagreement does not necessarily end your claim. Workers’ compensation disputes can be addressed through proceedings before the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation. Depending on the issue and stage of the case, the process may ultimately include a hearing before a deputy workers’ compensation commissioner.
Our law office can help you understand the dispute process, prepare your case and advocate for your interests when an employer or insurance carrier challenges your claim.
What Benefits May Be Available Under Iowa Workers' Compensation?
The benefits available depend on the nature of the injury and its effect on your ability to work. They may include reasonable and necessary medical care, temporary disability benefits and permanent disability benefits when an injury causes lasting impairment. Vocational rehabilitation benefits may also be available in qualifying circumstances.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can review your situation and help determine which benefits may apply rather than assuming the insurance carrier’s initial decision is the final word.
Talk to a Des Moines Workers' Compensation Lawyer Today
You do not have to sort through a workplace injury claim by yourself. The attorneys at Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., bring decades of Iowa roots and legal experience to the people they serve. Our law firm provides substantial legal resources with personal, local service for injured workers.
If you were injured while working in Des Moines, talk with our law office about your options. Our attorneys can listen to what happened, answer your questions and help you determine your next steps. Contact our workers’ compensation lawyers to get started.