Timelines for Filing an Iowa Workers’ Compensation Claim
State law specifies time limits for reporting work injuries. Typically, an injured worker in Iowa has 90 days to report his injury to his employer and two years to file a workers’ compensation claim. This clock begins to tick on the date of the injury. With a traumatic injury, the timeline is clear. The date of the accident is day one. However, cumulative injuries or other non-traumatic injuries can be more difficult to understand. State workers’ compensation regulations state that the worker still has to adhere to the 90-day and two-year limitations. However, there is some leeway given as to when the reporting window should begin. In general, an employee should report the injury and file a workers’ compensation claim when he knows or reasonably should have known:- The nature of the injury. What exactly is the injury? Often, an employee may not realize he has a clear and diagnosable injury. Once the injury has been identified, it is best to file a report with an employer.
- The seriousness of the injury. Many people dismiss minor aches and pains as signs of aging or fatigue. When it becomes clear that an employee’s physical issues are severe and will negatively impact his ability to work, the injury should be reported.
- The compensability of the injury. Employees often work for many years without having to file a workers’ compensation claim. At first, they may not realize their injuries are related to work. Often, a physician or other medical provider will work with a patient to identify the source of the injury, and it may only be then that the employee realizes the effect of the work conditions on his health.
How Do I Know What the State Considers as a Reasonable Timeline?
Commonly, a worker will experience back aches and pain on and off over time. First, he may attribute the pain to a particularly long day. The pain may go away, only to come back again a few days or weeks later. This can continue over a period of weeks or months before he seeks qualified medical care. So, how can a worker know exactly when the reporting window should begin? This is often a highly debated questions between the injured employee and the insurer. A number of factors may be examined to determine a reasonable time frame. Some important dates that can help determine when the statute of limitations should begin include:- Missed days of work
- Doctor appointments
- Therapy sessions
