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All you want is to be treated fairly after a workplace injury. You want to get the workers’ compensation benefits allowed by Iowa law. While you aren’t seeking to profit from your injury, you don’t want to leave any compensation or benefits that you are entitled to on the table. You want to get everything that you deserve.
Unfortunately, the insurance company doesn’t feel the same way. The workers’ compensation insurer wants to pay you as little as possible for your claim. The less the insurance company pays out in benefits to you, the more the insurance company can retain in profits for its shareholders.
The insurance company has people working hard to achieve its goal of maximizing its profits. You deserve to have someone working hard on your side to maximize your benefits. You and an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can work together to make sure that you are treated fairly.
How to Protect Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits
You can protect your right to fair workers’ compensation by:
- Reporting your injury. You may have up to 90 days to report your workplace injury, but you don’t have to wait that long. Instead, notify your employer of your injury as soon as possible.
- Getting medical treatment. You should get medical care as soon as possible after your injury, attend all medical appointments, and follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan. This includes not going back to work before your healthcare provider gives you the go-ahead to do so.
- Understanding the value of your specific injury. Before you can fight to get the benefits you deserve, you must know what benefits you are entitled to by law. Benefits may include medical costs, a portion of your lost income, vocational training, and more. Your lawyer will review your injury claim and help you anticipate a reasonable dollar figure for your unique injuries.
- Predicting what the insurance company might do. The insurance company may try to get you to sign a general medical release. It is important that you don’t sign anything before speaking with a workers’ compensation lawyer who can make sure that you give the insurer the necessary information to provide you with benefits but not any unnecessary information. Additionally, you should be prepared to be watched by the insurance company. An insurance company may stalk your social media accounts or even hire a private investigator to try to prove that you don’t have the injuries you claim.
- Working with expert witnesses, if needed. Your attorney will advise you as to whether an expert witness could help you prove the value of your workers’ compensation case. Vocational experts, medical professionals, and others may provide persuasive testimony about the value of your injuries.
- Understanding the different types of Iowa workers’ compensation settlements. Different types of settlements impact your rights in different ways. The type of settlement you reach could impact when you receive benefits and your future right to receive benefits, for example.
- Knowing when to appeal a workers’ compensation decision. If a settlement can’t be reached and a hearing results in an unfair workers’ comp award, then you may be able to appeal the hearing decision.
Right now, this list may look overwhelming. You don’t have to do any of this on your own, however. You have the right to work with an Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer who can advise you, help you value your claim, and handle your claim for you.
Call an Iowa Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today
Iowa workers’ compensation insurers know that Hupy and Abraham means business. Often, this makes insurance companies more willing to negotiate with us. If you have suffered a workplace injury in Iowa, then we encourage you to schedule a free consultation in our Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, or Quad Cities office. If you are too hurt to come to us, then we will come to you. Call us today to get started protecting all of the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
