Attorneys
Last Updated: 10/5/2023
After you receive a determination about a work injury claim, you have two choices: you can either accept the decision offered (amount of benefits, extent of disability, etc.), or you can request a hearing with the workers’ compensation commissioner if you believe that the decision was unfair. If you do apply for a hearing, here is what you need to know about where it will most likely be held.
In Des Moines
Because the workers’ compensation commissioner resides in Des Moines, it is likely that your hearing will be held there. If you agree to have your hearing held in Des Moines, it is probable that it will get heard quicker than if it is held elsewhere. At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, we also believe that the outcomes of workers’ compensation hearings that are held in Des Moines are often more favorable to the injured worker.
Des Moines-based hearings are preferable because the judges do not have to travel and are therefore often in a more positive mood. For these two reasons, agreeing to have your workers’ compensation hearing take place in Des Moines is often within your best interest.
The Judicial District Where the Injury Occurred
However, not all hearings must be held in Des Moines, especially if traveling to Des Moines is impossible for you. Section 86.17 of the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Code reads that hearings for workers’ compensation “shall be held in the judicial district where the injury occurred.”
Hearings may be held in the following cities.
- Ft. Dodge
- Sioux City
- Davenport
- Cedar Rapids
- Waterloo
- Mason City
- Storm Lake
According to the Iowa Workforce Development, those who wish to schedule a hearing in all areas outside of Des Moines will need to choose a backup hearing date first.
Can a workers’ compensation hearing help me?
During a workers’ compensation hearing, you will have the opportunity to present any new evidence related to your injury from the time your initial claim was made. If you have new evidence that suggests that a determination made about your workers’ compensation claim was unfair, then a hearing is your best chance of reversing that decision and receiving all the workers’ compensation benefits that can be collected.
How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
You don’t have to plan for your hearing alone because at Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our team of workers’ compensation attorneys will guide you through every step of the way. From determining where your hearing should be held to what information you’ll need to present, and advocating for you the day of, we’re here to help. Start my claim paperwork: (888) 435-9886.
