Urbandale Workers' Compensation Attorneys

A workplace injury can upend your life without warning. One shift you are doing your job, and the next you are facing mounting medical bills, time away from work, and a confusing claims process that can feel overwhelming. Workers in Urbandale and throughout Iowa who suffer on-the-job injuries deserve to understand their rights and have experienced legal representation in their corner. Walker, Billingsley & Bair has helped countless injured Iowa workers navigate the workers' compensation system, fight denied claims, and secure the benefits they are legally entitled to receive.

This guide covers three of the most common and consequential topics Urbandale workers need to understand: work-related bulging disc injuries, how long you can receive workers' compensation benefits under Iowa law, and the types of hip injuries that commonly occur at work and how they are compensated.

Work-Related Bulging Disc Injuries and Workers' Compensation

Bulging discs are among the most common types of work-related injuries in Iowa. Also referred to as herniated discs, this condition occurs when a spongy disc located between the vertebrae is damaged. It may break open or bulge out, placing pressure on nerves in the spinal cord. The result is often significant and lasting pain that can impact nearly every aspect of a worker's daily life.

To receive workers' compensation benefits for a bulging disc, the worker must establish that either a single workplace accident caused the injury, or that it developed over time as a result of repetitive work-related tasks. Both paths to a valid claim are recognized under Iowa workers' compensation law, and an experienced attorney can help you build the evidence needed to support your case.

Symptoms That May Indicate a Bulging Disc

Bulging discs most commonly occur in the lower back or neck. When the injury is in the lower back, pain can spread to the buttocks, hips, and legs. When the injury is in the neck, pain may radiate into the shoulders and arms. The most common symptom is pain, which can spread to other parts of the body, sometimes accompanied by weakness and numbness.

The condition often starts as mild discomfort but worsens with time and when performing certain tasks. Workers may notice their symptoms intensifying during lifting, bending, walking, extended sitting, or standing. For some, symptoms are worst at night. If any of these warning signs sound familiar and you work in a physically demanding job, speaking with a doctor and a workers' compensation attorney promptly is critical.

How a Bulging Disc Happens at Work

A bulging disc can occur in an acute workplace accident, such as a fall from a ladder or slipping on a wet floor. However, it can also develop gradually from performing repetitive tasks, especially when those tasks are not done with proper technique. Workers whose jobs involve frequent lifting, such as movers or warehouse employees, are particularly vulnerable. The constant stress placed on the back, particularly when proper lifting techniques are not used, can cause this type of injury to develop over months or even years.

Age can also be a contributing factor, as middle-aged and older workers are more prone to this type of back injury. Regardless of age, however, the bulging disc must have occurred within the scope of employment due to events or tasks at work in order to qualify for workers' compensation coverage. If the injury happened in a discrete accident, notifying your employer or supervisor immediately after the incident helps substantiate the claim. If the injury developed from repetitive job tasks, a doctor's diagnosis and medical notes confirming the connection to your work duties are essential to supporting your case.

Steps to Take When Seeking Workers' Compensation for a Bulging Disc

Getting evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible is the most important first step. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, inform your employer and their insurer, and file a claim for workers' compensation benefits. If the claim is approved, the employer's workers' compensation insurer will pay benefits that may include lifetime medical costs related to the injury as well as disability benefits.

If the bulging disc results in permanent impairment, the worker may receive permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits equal to 80 percent of weekly spendable wages. Back injuries are classified as industrial injuries, also referred to as "body as a whole" injuries under Iowa law, meaning disability benefits are paid for a percentage of 500 weeks. The calculation of these benefits depends on factors including the worker's impairment rating, age, and earning capacity.

If the insurer denies the claim, the next step is to seek legal advice and consider appealing the decision. Walker, Billingsley & Bair helps Iowa workers both file workers' compensation claims and appeal denied claims.

How Long Can You Be Out on Workers' Compensation in Iowa?

One of the most frequently asked questions among injured workers is how long they can remain off work while receiving benefits. Unlike some states that impose a 12, 18, or 24-month cap on benefits, Iowa does not have a set time limit for receiving workers' compensation benefits while you recover from a work injury. As long as you are receiving medical care that is actively improving your condition and you have not yet reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), you can continue receiving weekly TTD (temporary total disability) benefits.

Is Your Job Protected While You Are Off Work?

Job protection during a workers' compensation leave is not automatic in Iowa. If you qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), your employer can run your FMLA time concurrently with your workers' compensation leave. FMLA generally provides up to 12 weeks of protected leave. If you miss more than 12 weeks of work, your employer may have the legal right to terminate your employment. Additional protections may be available under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), other state and federal laws, or through a union agreement if you are a union member.

To qualify for FMLA, you must work for an employer with 50 or more employees who worked each working day during at least 20 calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Additionally, you must have worked for that employer for at least 12 months and logged at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months before your leave begins. If you meet these requirements, your position is protected for up to 12 weeks.

What If You Are Fired After Completing Medical Care?

If your employer terminates your employment during or after your workers' compensation medical care, it is essential to speak with a qualified work injury attorney right away. An attorney can help explain your options, protect your legal rights, and pursue the compensation you should receive.

If you have been let go and are no longer receiving TTD benefits, filing for unemployment benefits is likely in your best interest. Keep in mind that you cannot receive TTD and unemployment benefits at the same time. You also must be ready, willing, and able to perform some type of work in order to qualify for unemployment. If you have been off work for an extended period, your monetary work history records may affect your eligibility, though the unemployment office is supposed to substitute quarters during which you received TTD with the quarters prior to your work injury if you missed three or more quarters.

Should You Apply for Social Security Disability?

The question of whether to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is more nuanced. Filing for SSDI too soon can actually reduce the value of your workers' compensation case in the eyes of some Iowa workers' compensation judges, as it may be seen as a lack of motivation to return to work. If you are released to return to work with restrictions, conducting a valid job search before deciding whether to pursue SSDI is generally the recommended approach. Additionally, the SSDI process can take several years to reach a hearing before an administrative law judge, and if you are under 55 years of age, obtaining SSDI is more difficult than for older workers.

Walker, Billingsley & Bair helps clients navigate workers' compensation, employment law, unemployment law, and Social Security Disability matters together in order to achieve the best overall outcome.

Work-Related Hip Injuries: Types, Causes, and Compensation

Hip injuries are a serious and common consequence of workplace accidents and repetitive occupational strain. Hip injuries commonly occur in both car accidents and work injuries, and there are several distinct types that injured Iowa workers should understand. The type of hip injury you sustain affects your treatment options, recovery timeline, and the workers' compensation benefits available to you.

Hip Dislocation

A hip dislocation occurs when the top of the thigh bone comes out of the hip socket. This type of injury typically causes severe pain and usually requires a medical procedure to reposition the femur back into the socket. Hip dislocations can cause significant secondary damage including labral tears, hip fractures, and inflammation. Sometimes the hip will heal with time and conservative treatment, while other cases require surgery to pin or replace the hip socket.

Hip Strain

A hip strain involves the stretching or tearing of muscles and tendons in the hip. This can result from repetitive workplace tasks such as repeated lifting, or from a fall or other traumatic event on the job. Treatment for a hip strain generally includes rest, activity restrictions, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes injections. Most hip strains improve with time and proper care, though this type of injury can increase a worker's risk of developing arthritis later in life.

Arthritis of the Hip

Hip arthritis involves inflammation of the hip joint, sometimes with calcium deposits that form as the body attempts to protect the joint. Arthritis can develop with age, from overuse, or as a direct result of a traumatic event such as a fall or work injury. An important legal point for injured workers is that even if you already had arthritis before your work injury, if the workplace accident or repetitive job duties made your condition worse, you are entitled to compensation for that aggravation. Iowa law contains provisions to protect workers whose pre-existing conditions are worsened by a work-related event.

Treatment for hip arthritis typically begins with anti-inflammatory medications and injections before progressing to hip replacement surgery, also known as hip arthroplasty, in more severe cases. Workers who require hip replacement should ask their orthopedic surgeon about newer minimally invasive procedures that can significantly reduce healing time.

Bursitis

Hip bursitis is similar to arthritis but specifically involves swelling and inflammation in the bursae, the tissue that cushions the hip joint. Bursitis can be caused by overuse of the hip, a traumatic workplace injury such as a fall, or the natural degenerative process of the body. Like arthritis, bursitis resulting from or worsened by a work injury may be compensable under Iowa workers' compensation law.

Why Urbandale Workers Need Experienced Legal Representation

Workers' compensation claims in Iowa involve complex legal and medical questions that can be difficult to navigate without professional guidance. Insurance companies are focused on minimizing their payouts, not on ensuring you receive everything you are entitled to under the law. Far too many hard-working Iowans make costly mistakes early in the claims process, often before they fully understand their rights, and those mistakes can follow them throughout the life of their case.

Common errors include failing to report a work injury promptly, not seeking immediate medical attention, making statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel, and not understanding the difference between the types of disabilities and corresponding benefits available under Iowa workers' compensation law. An experienced Urbandale workers' compensation attorney can help you avoid these pitfalls, gather the evidence needed to support your claim, and fight aggressively for full and fair compensation.

Getting Legal Assistance In Urbandale

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 Urbandale 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.

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