Hurt workers in Iowa need workers’ compensation benefits for their medical treatment. The good news is that every employee, from a part-time worker on their first day to someone with 20 years at the company, has the right to claim benefits. The bad news is that handling a workers’ compensation claim can be difficult.
If a worker needs to take time off of work because of an injury, they will also need disability benefits. The physician overseeing their care determines what work accommodations they need, what physical limitations they have and how much time off of work they require to heal.
Workers have to comply with medical instructions to continue receiving benefits, and they may feel like they have very little control over their own future. After all, the employer typically gets to choose where a hurt worker receives medical care, which can affect how much the person trusts the doctor.
How can you ensure you are getting the right care given the nature and extent of your injury?
You probably need professional guidance
Simply trying to file a claim can be hard enough on its own, to say nothing of needing to learn the ins and outs of the workers’ compensation system while fighting your employer for the care and support you require. Trying to research the injury that you have and the medical standards for treating the condition may be too much to handle in addition to undergoing care and trying to keep your job or preparing to return to work.
Having a workers’ compensation attorney manage your claim means that you don’t have to worry about the details of the paperwork or learn all of the Iowa laws about workers’ compensation. It also means that you will have the support of someone familiar with common medical treatments for workplace injuries and how to get the right care for the injuries that you have.
What happens when the doctor doesn’t provide adequate care?
Workers not getting the proper treatment for their condition will require support as they fight for the right treatments so that they can actually recover from their injuries. You may have to file a petition and attend a hearing to seek care from a different professional or have a different kind of treatment covered.
Understanding how you are vulnerable as a worker receiving workers’ compensation benefits to help you fight back when your employer or their recommended physician fails to help you in your efforts to recover from a work-related injury.
