If you are hurt so badly that you cannot return to your job then there may be many costs that you incur beyond your health care and many financial implications beyond your lost income. The Iowa workers’ compensation statute allows you to recover for many of these costs, but you should not trust the insurance company to offer you all of these potential benefits unless you ask for them.
The First Step Is Knowing Your Rights
Before you can ask for your recovery of workers’ compensation, you need to know what Iowa law allows you to recover. Beyond payments for your medical costs and lost income, you may be able to recover for:
- Mileage. Workers’ compensation will reimburse you for the mileage for traveling to and from the medical care that you need for your work injury. It is important to keep accurate records of your travel in order to be reimbursed for this expense.
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits. The Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services helps people with disabilities with employment services. You may be entitled to a payment of up to $100 week for up to 26 weeks if you are actively involved in a vocational rehabilitation program.
- Death benefits. If you are the dependent of an employee who died then you may be able to recover benefits. A surviving spouse may recover for life or until the spouse remarries. If the spouse remarries, then the spouse is entitled to a two-year lump sum of benefits assuming there are no dependent children. A child may recover until age 18 or until age 25 if the child is actually dependent past the age of 18.
- Burial expenses. In addition to the weekly death benefits described above, a family of a deceased worker may be able to recover for burial expenses. These expenses may not exceed twelve times the state average weekly wage at the time of death.
These benefits can make an important difference in your financial future.
The Second Step Is Getting the Workers’ Comp Recovery You Deserve
Once you know your rights, you need to know how to protect your rights. You can do so by working with an experienced Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer who knows how to negotiate with the insurance company and how to fight for the full workers’ compensation recovery that you deserve.
For more information about your rights, please call us today or contact us via this website to schedule a free consultation.