If you are injured at work, you may wonder how medical bills are handled or how you will be compensated for missed days of work caused by the injury. Iowa Workers’ Compensation benefits are provided to employees who are injured on the job or develop occupational diseases (including hearing loss) arising out of and in the course of their employment. These benefits are payable regardless of fault and are the exclusive remedy for an employee to receive compensation from their employer for injuries sustained on the job.
Employers will either purchase workers’ compensation insurance to cover employees injured on the job or self-insure, meaning the employer covers medical bills and lost wages for injured workers. Iowa law requires most employers to have a reliable method of providing benefits to injured employees.
While nearly all employees are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, there are some exceptions. Classifications for employees who are exempt from the law (not covered) include some, but not all, domestic or casual employees and agricultural workers; certain family members of an employer or the employer’s spouse; public employees entitled to certain other benefits; members of LLCs, and other classifications. It is important to seek the advice of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney if your eligibility for benefits is in doubt. Contact the Iowa Workers’ Compensation attorneys of McDonald & Woodward PLC today.