Finding a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

When you have sustained a work-related injury, it may be a good idea to hire an attorney. Injured workers who rely on the employer’s Workers’ Compensation carrier to authorize the necessary medical care they need are oftentimes shortchanged.

Claim Form:

Depending upon the state that you are living in, if you are injured on the job, you are required to fill out a claim form that is sent to the employer’s insurance carrier.

Doctor:

Once you have filled out the claim form, you are directed to an industrial injury clinic. The doctors at these clinics are essentially paid to patch you up and send you back to work. If you rely on the doctors at the industrial injury clinic to give you the medical care you need, it may not happen.

Attorney:

You need a Workers’ Compensation attorney to protect your interests and help you to get the medical care you need to heal completely, with a minimum of permanent disability.

The best way to find an attorney is via word of mouth. If that doesn’t work, check with your local Bar Association for an attorney. Schedule an appointment to sit down with the attorney and go over your case.

WCAB:

Your attorney will file a case with the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. This is the court for injured workers. He will also refer you to a medical specialist. This doctor, often an orthopedist, will usually prescribe pain medication, muscle relaxers and any other medicine you need for your recovery.

Off Work:

In order to heal from most work injuries, a person needs to rest. Usually the doctor your attorney refers you to will take you off work for awhile. You provide your attorney with your off-work order, and he sends it to the Workers’ Compensation carrier, requesting temporary total disability (TTD) benefits for you. These will vary according to your salary, but will be around two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

Then you will treat with your doctor, undergo physical therapy and rest until you are completely healed. This usually takes three to six months for soft-tissue injuries.

Permanent & Stationary:

When you are healed as much as you are going to, your doctor generates his final report indicating that you are “permanent and stationary” and also denoting any permanent disability that remains.

Both sides in your case with go back and forth on settlement. Most Workers’ Compensation cases end in a lump sum settlement. Those that don’t, receive an award by a judge, provided that he believes you have sustained an injury. This award is paid out as a weekly benefit.

Visit Iowa Workers Compensation Law for more information about workers’ compensation lawyer Iowa.