Most injured workers are released by their doctors to return to work. Iowa law recently changed, impacting the way injured workers are compensated for whole-body injuries (head, neck, back and hip injuries).
Effective July 1, 2017, a worker with a whole-body injury, who returns to work, or is offered work at the same or similar pay, is to be compensated based only on functional impairment ratings. Later on, if the injured worker is terminated, he or she may be able to file a Review-Reopening Petition, and seek additional benefits. Iowa Code § 85.34(2)(u).
For injuries occurring
before July 1, 2017, an injured worker was allowed to seek damages for lost earning capacity, even if he or she returned to work for the same employer, on similar terms. The impact of this change in Iowa law should be carefully considered, when bringing a worker’s compensation claim for whole-body injuries. The attorneys at Lawyer, Dougherty & Palmer, P.L.C. are ready to help.
Contact us
for a free consultation, to discuss this major change in Iowa workers’ compensation law and its impact on your whole-body injury claim.
Iowa law recently changed, impacting light duty work offered to injured workers. Effective July 1, 2017, if an employer offers light duty work, to a worker with temporary physical restrictions, the offer must be in writing. The injured worker is required to give a written response. Weekly benefits may be suspended, or even lost, if the injured worker does not respond properly to an offer of light duty work. Iowa Code § 85.33. The attorneys at Lawyer, Dougherty & Palmer, P.L.C. are ready to help with offers to return to work.
Contact us
for a free consultation.