Have you been injured on the job, filed a workers’ compensation claim, only to find out that your employer lied to the workers' compensation commission? If so, your employer may be in for a host of consequences. In this situation, we urge you to work with experienced Iowa workers' compensation attorneys to help you get your compensation, as well as the needed medical treatment. The lawyers at the Pothitakis Law Firm have been helping injured workers since 1983, and are committed to providing the best possible legal representation for employees injured on the job.
What Happens If an Employer Lied to the Workers' Compensation Commission?
When you report an injury to your employer, your employer is required to contact their workers’ compensation insurance carrier and to provide you with the information necessary to obtain medical treatment for your injuries. Your employer must, however, choose medical care that is appropriate and reasonable to treat your injuries. Further, your employer must reimburse you for mileage expenses you incur to get approved medical treatment for your work injuries. Injured workers who need to leave work to receive medical care for their work injuries may be eligible to receive lost wages. Those who suffer lost earning capacity because of the injury may qualify for compensation to supplement this loss. Some employers are notorious for dragging their feet when it comes to reporting the claim or injury. The employer may dispute the workers' compensation claim, or simply not want to pay out. The employer’s fear is usually that their premiums for workers’ compensation insurance will increase, and so they attempt to hide the injury for as long as possible. Of course, this is against the rules of the workers’ compensation laws of Iowa (and most other states) and must be met head-on with the help of a workers’ compensation attorney who understands the law.
Workers' Compensation Employer Responsibility
In Iowa, the employer must file a notice of injury within four days of learning that an injury occurred. A report must also be filed with the employer’s insurer. Occasionally, employers will attempt to discharge an injured worker in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. In addition, employers have been guilty of attempting to escape responsibility by classifying an employee as an independent contractor. If you are experiencing any of these problems, consult one of our attorneys.
Let Our Iowa Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Fight for You
If you are facing frustrations with the lack of cooperation from your employer, you must hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Attempting to fight the employer while you are injured and in need of medical care and rehabilitation can be dangerous to your health. Our firm has been helping injured workers since 1983 and has always been on the side of the employee when working cases involving injuries in the workplace. We have office locations in Burlington and Keokuk and proudly serve injured workers across the entire state of Iowa. There is no valid excuse when an employer lied to the workers' compensation committee, or tries to hinder your efforts to receive treatment. There's also no excuse for your employer to fail to report your injury to the workers’ compensation board or their insurer. Whenever our attorneys have become involved in cases involving employer misconduct, the employer’s tune changes quickly and dramatically, and immediate cooperation is the usual result. Please contact our office today if you or a loved one is experiencing difficulties with an employer and a workers’ compensation claim. An injured employee should not have to deal with a company or business owner taking advantage of them and attempting to block their efforts to get help, and fair benefits when injured. Let our firm represent and protect your legal rights.
