Posted by Emily Anderson

In order for something to be a work injury in Iowa, it must happen at work, have some relationship to the work activities, and be medically caused by work activities.  While some injures may appear to be work-related, that is not always the case. Let’s talk about some of the injuries that are not covered …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

In July of 2017, workers’ compensation law changed dramatically for Iowans who suffered a shoulder injury at work. The law was designed to limit benefits to injured workers who had shoulder injuries. However, recently the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commission issued an initial decision specifically defining what the shoulder is and what the shoulder isn’t. More specifically, …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

After being hurt on the job in Iowa, you may believe you can settle your workers’ compensation claim on your own. But should you do so – or should you hire an experienced Iowa workers’ compensation attorney to help you? The short answer is that an attorney will be able to tell you whether you …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

In July 2017, Iowa legislators made drastic changes to Iowa’s workers’ compensation laws.  One of the most drastic changes made was how shoulder injuries were compensated. In Iowa work comp law, there are two main types of work injuries: “scheduled member” injuries and “body as a whole” injuries. Scheduled Member Work Injuries Scheduled member injuries are …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

Did you have a work injury that was immediately followed by a positive drug or alcohol test? If so, the work comp insurance may deny your Iowa workers’ compensation claim. Iowa Workers’ Compensation Law Changes Affect Drug Testing In 2017, the Iowa legislature voted in sweeping changes to the Iowa workers’ compensation system.  One change they made …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

Iowa workers’ compensation rules can be overwhelming.  One of the biggest challenges injured workers face after being hurt on the job is understanding work comp language.  There seems to be an acronym for everything. Here is a quick reference guide to Iowa workers’ compensation lingo, so you’re not left in the dark: IME: Independent Medical Examination. …

Continue reading “IME, FCE, MMI, MSA, PPD, TTD: Translating the Foreign Language of Iowa Workers’ Compensation”

Posted by Emily Anderson

During the 2017 legislative session, some of Iowa’s lawmakers voted in new changes to Iowa’s Worker’s Compensation laws.  These changes were aimed to protect insurance companies and large, self-insured corporations by cutting benefits to injured workers. Some of the changes to the law are not clear and will need to be interpreted by judges.  Iowa’s …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

Are you worse off either physically or financially after you’ve resolved your Iowa workers’ compensation claim?  You might be wondering if you can reopen your claim and ask for additional permanent disability benefits. It could be possible, but you should consider these three questions first: Has Your Physical or Financial Condition Worsened Because of Your …

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Posted by Ben Long

It’s no surprise that slip and fall accidents can be dangerous.  When these incidents occur, it’s fairly common for someone to hit their head. If you’ve recently fallen and hit your head due to someone else’s negligence, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Slip and Fall A traumatic …

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Posted by Emily Anderson

It’s disheartening when injured Iowans come into my office and they are either past the deadline for filing a workers’ compensation claim or they have already settled their work comp case and are unhappy with the result. If you have truly settled your workers’ compensation claim, it’s very difficult to “un-do.”  But often, injured workers think they …

Continue reading “I Settled My Iowa Workers’ Compensation Case. Can I Still Sue?”