If you are an employee and you were hurt in a work-related accident in Iowa then you are likely eligible for Iowa workers’ compensation benefits. You, your employer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and others may be interested in the specific cause of your injury even if your eligibility for benefits is easily established.
Common Causes of Work Injuries
Some of the common ways in which employees are injured at work include:
- Transportation accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of fatal work injuries in the United States. Whether you drive for a living or you were hurt while driving for a work-related reason, it is important to know whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation.
- Falls. Fall accidents can occur in any work environment. Injuries may occur because of slip or trip accidents on the same level or from a fall from a higher level.
- Electrocutions. Electricity can be dangerous—particularly when it is being installed, when it is being fixed, when there is faulty wiring, when circuits are overloaded, or when there is another problem. Utility workers, electricians, construction workers and others can be serious injured in electrocution accidents.
- Equipment accidents. A moving piece of equipment, a falling piece of equipment, a piece of equipment that is powered by electricity, or a hot piece of equipment can result in significant injuries for which an employee may recover workers’ compensation benefits.
- Toxins. Certain chemicals and toxins can result in serious illnesses over time. Even though there may not be one specific day that you were hurt, you may still be eligible for workers’ compensation if you become sick from toxic exposure at work.
- Repetitive stress. You do the same activities day in and day out, and that can create stress on certain body parts, resulting in injury and missed time from work. These injuries may make you eligible for workers’ compensation.
If you are hurt in any of these ways while performing a work-related activity, then you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. However, you should not count on your employer or your employer’s insurer to provide fair benefits without being persuaded to do so.
Even when eligibility is straightforward, the insurance company may try to pay you as little as possible in benefits so that it can maximize its own profits. You don’t have to deal with the stress of this process alone, nor do you have to accept benefits that do not fairly compensate you for your injuries. Instead, we encourage you to contact our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers for a free consultation about your rights and to learn more about how to get the fair Iowa workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve.
