Britt Workers Compensation Attorneys

Can Workers' Compensation Payments Just Stop for a Britt Worker?

Workers' compensation benefits cannot simply stop unless there is a legitimate reason to cease them. It is important for Britt workers to understand their rights as employees when it comes to a work injury and ongoing payments.

Circumstances Under Which Benefits Could Stop

The most common and valid reason for benefits to stop is when the employee has returned to work, meaning the worker has recovered and can resume normal job duties. Iowa law requires employees to receive a 30-day written notice with an explanation for stopping benefits under other circumstances. For instance, if the medical provider has indicated that significant improvement from the injury is not anticipated, or if the employee is medically capable of returning to the same or similar work, a written notice is required. Along with a reason for terminating benefits, employees must be advised of their right to file a claim with the Workers' Compensation Commissioner if there is a disagreement. Stopping benefits without providing notice could warrant seeking legal advice.

When Termination of Benefits Is Not Warranted

Some insurers or employers stop benefits without a valid reason. For example, an employer might fire an employee in an attempt to avoid paying benefits. While a worker is not working, or is performing light duty work and receiving temporary partial workers' comp benefits, an employer cannot terminate that employee as a means of retaliation. Another unwarranted reason to stop benefits is when the employer disagrees with the doctor's findings, such as a dispute over a disability rating, work restrictions, or other medical findings. If the medical provider has indicated the employee is not ready to return to work but the employer or insurer believes otherwise, that is not a valid reason to stop benefits.

Back Surgery Procedures for a Britt Work Injury

Back injuries related to job duties or workplace accidents are not uncommon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 150,000 workers suffer some type of occupational back injury every year. Many of these injuries are so severe that they necessitate back surgery, leaving the worker incapacitated and unable to return to work or other normal daily activities for a long period of time.

Common Types of Back Surgery

Workplaces can be a breeding ground for injury. Slips and falls, falling equipment, heavy lifting, and repetitive movements can all cause back issues, and the type of surgery a doctor may recommend depends on the nature of the injury. Options can include spinal fusion, which permanently connects vertebrae to stabilize the spine, discectomy to remove a damaged spinal disc, laminectomy to remove the lamina, a part of a vertebra, and foraminotomy to widen the vertebra. Other treatments include nerve blocks, which are spinal anesthetic injections, discography, which involves dye injections into the spine for diagnostic purposes, radiofrequency nerve ablation using radio waves to destroy nerves, and disc replacement, in which a damaged disc is replaced with an artificial one.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Surgery always comes with risks, and patients should discuss those risks with their doctors before moving forward. In addition to the possibility that surgery may not resolve the underlying problem, complications can include pain, infection, bleeding and blood clots, anesthesia complications, nerve or spinal cord injury, non-union in fusion surgeries, and long periods of disability. Sometimes, however, surgery is the only option, such as with fracture injuries or spinal cord injuries. If you have suffered a serious back injury in a Britt work accident, discuss all treatment options with your physician and consider getting a second opinion before undergoing surgery.

Serious Injuries That May Result From a Britt Factory Accident

Suffering a serious injury in a factory accident can result in acute pain, but it can also lead to a lingering, chronic condition. Some examples of long-term conditions and injuries include loss of a limb, disfigurement, chronic pain, mental impairment, paralysis, respiratory issues, loss of or damage to hearing or vision, and neurological damage. These long-term conditions can significantly impact quality of life and often create future medical expenses for therapy or extended treatment. The costs associated with these permanent or long-term conditions from a factory accident can often be compensated through an Iowa workers' compensation claim.

Filing an Iowa Workers' Compensation Claim After a Factory Accident

While the initial claim is filed through your employer, you may need a workers' compensation attorney to help you settle the case. In many of these situations, an employer will not inform an injured worker of their full rights in order to pay a lower amount in benefits. By working with an attorney, a Britt factory worker can learn about the right to choose a doctor, the right to be reimbursed for treatment, and the right to obtain benefits for any long-term care that may be needed.

Determining the Value of Your Claim

A factory accident should not be allowed to bankrupt a worker and their family with medical expenses and lost wages. Iowa workers' compensation claims can be won with proper attention to the process and gathering of evidence. Work with your attorney to determine what compensation you may be entitled to and the value of your claim before accepting any settlement from the insurance company. Remember that any settlement needs to take into consideration both your needs at the present moment and in the future, so you do not jeopardize your financial situation if later medical costs arise.