La Porte City Workers Compensation Attorneys

Below, we cover how to check on the status of a workers' compensation claim, how a serious injury like a calcaneus fracture can affect long-term benefits, and what every La Porte City worker should know about how insurance companies operate.

How to Check the Status of Your Workers' Compensation Claim

If a La Porte City worker is pursuing a workers' compensation claim, the best way to check on the status of that claim is to contact the attorney handling the case. An attorney can communicate directly with the workers' compensation insurer, the employer, and even the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation to get an update. If a worker does not yet have an attorney, they may also contact the insurance company handling the claim directly, or reach out to the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation at 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0209. That office can be reached at 515-281-5387 or (800) JOB-IOWA.

It is important to keep in mind that settling a workers' compensation case can take weeks or even months, particularly when there is a dispute over the worker's entitlement to benefits.

What Might Delay a Workers' Compensation Settlement?

Disputes are the most common cause of delay. If there is disagreement over whether an injury is work related, or over the degree of impairment a worker has suffered, the claim may stall. In these situations, a La Porte City worker may need to request an independent medical exam if they disagree with an impairment rating, or explore their options if they do not feel ready to return to work despite a company-chosen doctor clearing them to do so.

When these disputes arise, it may become necessary to appeal a denied workers' compensation claim with the Workers' Compensation Commissioner or take other formal steps to secure the benefits owed.

A worker who has not yet hired an attorney, or who is considering a change in representation, should ask any firm they are considering how often they provide updates and through what method, whether by phone, email, or another form of communication.

Calcaneus Fractures and Permanent Disability Benefits

A calcaneus fracture, or a broken heel bone, is one of the most disabling injuries a La Porte City worker can suffer on the job. These fractures often require surgery to stabilize the bone, which may involve the placement of plates and screws. A high percentage of workers who suffer this type of injury never return to their previous line of work, and even those who do often face permanent restrictions, such as being limited to standing for only short periods or being restricted to sedentary, sit-down work.

What Benefits Are Available for a Calcaneus Fracture?

A La Porte City worker who has sustained a calcaneus fracture is entitled to permanent disability benefits under Iowa law. How much compensation is owed depends on a number of factors, including whether both heels were fractured, whether the worker developed back, hip, or spine problems as a result of an altered walking pattern, whether depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues developed because of the injury, and whether the worker had a prior injury to a hand, arm, foot, or eye that might qualify them for Iowa's Second Injury Fund. That prior condition does not need to be work related. It could be something the worker was born with, an old sports injury, or a previous surgery unrelated to the current job.

How Are Benefits Calculated?

Depending on the factors above, a calcaneus fracture may be treated as a scheduled member injury, meaning the impairment percentage assigned by a doctor is multiplied by the total value of a foot under Iowa law, which is 150 weeks. A 10 percent impairment rating, for example, would result in 15 weeks of permanent benefits.

However, if a worker's case involves one of the complicating factors described above, such as an altered gait or a qualifying prior injury, the claim may instead be treated as a non-scheduled industrial disability case. In this scenario, the impairment rating is only one of many factors considered, alongside age, education, work restrictions, the ability to return to the same job, and wages. Industrial disability is calculated as a percentage of 500 weeks, and in the most serious cases, may even result in permanent total disability, which provides a weekly benefit for the remainder of the worker's life.

What Insurance Companies Don't Want La Porte City Workers to Know

Insurance companies are among the wealthiest and most powerful corporations in the country, and their financial interests are rarely aligned with those of an injured worker. Understanding a few key facts about how insurance adjusters operate can help protect a La Porte City worker's claim from being undervalued.

Do You Need an Attorney for Your La Porte City Workers' Compensation Claim?

Not every workers' compensation claim requires an attorney, but a La Porte City worker who has suffered a serious injury, such as a calcaneus fracture, or who is dealing with an insurance company that is offering an unfair settlement or disputing that an injury is work related, will likely benefit from experienced legal representation. An attorney familiar with Iowa workers' compensation law can communicate with the insurer on your behalf, keep your claim moving forward, and help ensure you receive the full benefits to which you are entitled.