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- Cresco Workers Compensation Attorneys
- Phone: 641-792-3595
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A serious work injury near Cresco, Iowa can upend every part of your life. Whether you have suffered a broken neck in a workplace fall, developed a herniated disc from years of physically demanding labor, or sustained another debilitating injury on the job, Iowa's workers' compensation system exists to cover your medical costs and replace a portion of your lost wages. But navigating that system without the right information is a serious risk. Injured workers who do not know the rules, the deadlines, and the mistakes to avoid often receive far less than they are legally entitled to. This article covers two of the most serious work injuries seen in Iowa workers' compensation cases, the four things you should never do when applying for benefits, and why having an experienced Cresco workers' compensation attorney in your corner matters.
Herniated Disc Injuries From Work: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
If you have been involved in a work injury and are experiencing pain in your thigh or leg along with numbness or tingling, you may be dealing with a herniated disc, also referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc. This type of work injury occurs when the cushioning in your spine, the disc, becomes damaged and bulges or breaks open. Because a herniated disc places pressure on surrounding nerve roots, the symptoms can range from localized back pain to debilitating radiating pain and weakness throughout the body.
What Causes a Herniated Disc at Work?
Workers who hold physically demanding jobs are most at risk for this type of injury. Repetitive lifting, pulling, twisting, and pushing are all factors that can contribute to a herniated disc over time or cause an acute rupture during a single demanding incident. If your job regularly requires any of these physical activities, your spine is under consistent stress, and an injury can develop gradually without any single dramatic event making it immediately obvious that a serious injury has occurred.
Recognizing the Symptoms of a Work-Related Herniated Disc
If the herniated disc is in your lower back, you will typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh, and leg. This condition is called sciatica and is one of the most common tell-tale symptoms of a herniated disc. The pain may even extend into part of your foot. If the herniated disc is in your neck, you will feel the pain in your shoulder and arm. Coughing or sneezing can cause the pain to radiate sharply down your arm or leg.
You may experience tingling or numbness in the part of the body most closely connected to the damaged nerve. This symptom can occur alongside pain or independently, and it signals nerve involvement that warrants prompt medical evaluation.
Muscles served by the affected nerves may weaken, causing you to trip and fall or preventing you from lifting or holding items with the same strength you had before the injury. Unexplained weakness following a work incident is always a reason to seek medical care and to report the injury to your employer.
It is also worth noting that if a herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve root, you may experience only a backache, or in some cases, no pain at all. Since a herniated disc can cause symptoms that last weeks or months, you should seek medical treatment as soon as you recognize any of these signs. Delaying care not only risks worsening your condition but can also create problems for your workers' compensation claim.
How Is a Herniated Disc Diagnosed and Treated?
Your doctor will perform a physical examination. If the clinical findings clearly indicate a herniated disc, imaging may not be immediately ordered. However, if a definitive diagnosis cannot be reached through examination alone, your doctor may order a CT scan or MRI to confirm the injury and assess its severity.
Once a herniated disc is confirmed, treatment may include any of the following depending on the severity of the injury:
Medication
- Over-the-counter pain relievers for mild to moderate pain
- Narcotics for severe pain
- Prescription medications to target nerve pain
- Muscle relaxers
- Cortisone injections to reduce swelling and inflammation
Therapy
- Exercises designed to minimize pain and restore function
- Electrical stimulation
- Short-term bracing
- Traction
- Ultrasound therapy
Surgery
- When other treatments fail, surgery may be necessary to remove a disc fragment lodged in the spinal canal. Approximately one out of every ten people with a herniated disc eventually requires surgery.
For more on herniated disc injuries and Iowa workers' compensation, read When a Work Injury Leads to a Herniated Disc at iowainjured.com.
Broken Neck Injuries at Work: What You Need to Know
While herniated disc injuries are among the most common work-related spine conditions, a broken neck represents one of the most catastrophic outcomes of a workplace accident. Although neck fractures frequently occur in sports, they also result from workplace incidents involving a crash (such as an accident in a company vehicle), a fall from an elevated surface, or any situation in which excessive force causes trauma to the neck.
Understanding the Anatomy of a Cervical Fracture
The neck is made up of seven cervical vertebrae, which, like other bones, can be dislocated or fractured. The reason this type of injury can be so catastrophic is that the spinal cord runs directly through those vertebrae. Although a broken neck does not always damage the spinal cord, when it does, the potential for paralysis or even death exists. Paralysis from a cervical spinal cord injury can be temporary or permanent, and because the injury occurs at the level of the neck, it affects the person from the neck down. Depending on the severity of the spinal cord damage, other neurological complications may also develop.
Recognizing Signs of a Broken Neck
Recognizing the signs of a broken neck at a Cresco worksite is critical. If there is any suspicion that a worker has sustained a cervical fracture, the injured person should not be moved, and emergency medical attention must be sought immediately. Movement of someone with a suspected neck fracture can cause further and potentially permanent injury.
Immediate signs may include loss of mobility if paralysis is present, or the victim going into shock. Signs of shock include weak pulse, shallow breathing, clammy skin, pupil dilation, and loss of consciousness. If the individual remains conscious, they may report severe neck pain. If a nerve is compressed, that pain will spread to other parts of the body such as the shoulders and arms. Visible signs of a fracture may include swelling and bruising at the injury site.
Treatment for a Cervical Fracture
Treatment options for a broken neck vary widely depending on the severity of the fracture. A mild fracture may not require invasive intervention. The person may be given medication to manage pain and fitted with a brace that immobilizes the neck for approximately two months, or a neck cast worn for a similar or longer period.
More severe injuries may require traction, which may allow limited mobility or prevent all movement depending on the device used. This therapy can be conducted at home or may require hospitalization. In the most serious cases, rods, pins, screws, and other internal materials may be surgically implanted to support the fractured bones. Some patients require spinal fusion, in which bones or synthetic material are fused in the space between the vertebrae and held together with metal hardware. Often, a combination of these treatments and surgeries will be necessary, along with an extended course of physical therapy. The injury will almost certainly result in significant missed time from work, and workers' compensation benefits may be available to cover both medical expenses and a portion of those lost wages.
Workers' compensation is available to those hurt at work in Iowa to pay for medical bills and replace a portion of lost income. It may also provide assistance if vocational training is required after a serious injury like a broken neck or permanent spinal cord damage. Do not assume the insurance company will tell you everything you are entitled to. Injured Iowans are increasingly recognizing that the workers' compensation insurance company is not there to help them, and that having someone on their side is essential.
For a detailed overview of broken neck injuries sustained at work in Iowa, read Hurt at Work in Iowa: Overview of a Broken Neck at iowainjured.com.
Four Things You Should Never Do When Applying for Workers' Compensation in Iowa
Whether you have sustained a herniated disc, a broken neck, or any other serious work injury near Cresco, the steps you take when applying for workers' compensation benefits directly affect how much you receive and whether your claim succeeds. The following four mistakes are among the most damaging an injured worker can make, and they are all avoidable.
Under Iowa workers' compensation law, specifically Iowa Code Section 85.23, you have only 90 days to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits. If you have been injured on the job and want to apply for benefits, do not miss this 90-day deadline. Failing to notify your employer within this window means you forfeit your right to benefits entirely. It does not matter how serious your injury is or how clear it is that it happened at work. If you miss the filing deadline, your claim is gone. Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible after it occurs, even if the injury seems minor at first.
It can be tempting to overstate the severity of your injuries, particularly if you are worried about having your claim denied or not receiving your full benefit amount. Resist that temptation. Exaggerating your injuries is one of the worst things you can do. A medical examiner who doubts your authenticity when you describe your pain or disability may make an incorrect assessment that reduces or eliminates your benefits. Insurance companies and their medical professionals are experienced at identifying inconsistencies in the way claimants describe their symptoms. Be honest, complete, and accurate in every description of how you feel and how your injury is affecting your ability to function. Your credibility is one of your most valuable assets in a workers' compensation claim.
Your employer has the right to choose the medical provider who will oversee and treat you for your work injuries. However, you are not obligated to simply accept every medical opinion or treatment recommendation without question. If you disagree with a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or a disability rating that affects your compensation amount, you have the right to take action. Start by notifying your employer, because many disputes can be resolved through direct conversation. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, you have the right to initiate a contested case. While contesting a case takes effort, receiving medical care you disagree with or accepting a medical opinion that undervalues your injury and reduces your compensation may cost you far more in the long run.
As an injured worker in Iowa, you are entitled to payment for the total cost of your medical expenses and treatment, as well as disability payments if you have to miss work. The types of disability benefits available under Iowa workers' compensation include:
- Temporary total disability (TTD)
- Temporary partial disability (TPD)
- Healing period benefits
- Permanent partial disability (PPD)
- Permanent total disability (PTD)
- Secondary injury fund benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits
If you believe you are entitled to a benefit amount that has been denied or that a settlement offer does not fully cover your damages, you do not have to accept it. You can hire an attorney who can help you appeal your workers' compensation claim and pursue the full amount you are owed. Too many injured workers in Iowa settle quickly because they do not realize what they are truly entitled to. Before you agree to any settlement, speak with an experienced Cresco workers' compensation attorney who can evaluate your case and tell you whether the offer on the table reflects the full value of your claim.
Important: The workers' compensation insurance company is not there to help you. Their goal is to close your file as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Injured workers in Cresco are beginning to understand that having someone on their side is not optional when their financial future and long-term health are at stake. A consultation with an attorney costs you nothing and may reveal benefits you did not know you were owed.
For a full breakdown of what never to do when applying for Iowa workers' compensation benefits, read 4 Things You Should Never Do If Applying for Workers' Compensation Benefits at iowainjured.com.
Getting Legal Assistance In Cresco
Navigating the complexities of Iowa workers' compensation laws can be daunting, especially during the recovery process from a workplace injury. Seeking guidance from a seasoned Cresco Workers' Comp attorney is invaluable in ensuring your rights are protected and maximizing your chances of a favorable outcome.
Legal professionals play a pivotal role in gathering evidence, preparing documentation, and advocating for your interests throughout the claims process. Don't risk missing out on the compensation you deserve – enlist the support of a qualified attorney to navigate the complexities with confidence.
The Iowa Workers' Compensation attorney team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair know the importance of protecting your work injury claim from the get-go. That's why we provide this FREE book; Iowa Workers' Compensation - An Insider's Guide to Work Injuries: 7 Deadly Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa work injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation - 641-792-3595.