Des Moines and Iowa Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

It is impossible to anticipate the illnesses and injuries that will take you by surprise throughout your adulthood. While some of these will set you back a day or two, others may leave you facing debilitating pain and long-term recovery needs. Should your injury or illness be related to the work you do, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

Many people believe that the only individuals who will need to make use of workers’ compensation benefits are those who work in notoriously dangerous industries but, in reality, any job can lead to serious injuries and medical conditions. A Des Moines and Iowa workers’ compensation attorney from LaMarca Law Group, P.C. is ready to serve individuals throughout the State of Iowa and can help you determine your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits and file a claim. For a free consultation contact one of our experienced attorneys at (515) 225-2600 to learn more. There is never any fee or expense unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Our Goal: Safer Workplaces

Many of the cases investigated and successfully prosecuted by the trial lawyers at LaMarca Law Group, P.C., have resulted in a safer situation by the adoption or improvement of safety standards not only in the workplace, but in other areas, as well. Our trial attorneys are especially proud of our successful cases that have led to these types of safety improvements through changed standards or new or strengthened laws protecting workers.

For a sampling of some of the workers’ compensation cases we have handled, see our Verdicts and Settlements section below.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Iowa

The Workers’ Compensation Act regulates the way that Iowa workers’ compensation is given to those who suffer work-related injuries. It states that people injured in the course of doing their job could be eligible to receive financial benefits for workplace injuries.

Anyone who develops an occupational disease, hearing loss, or sustains an injury may qualify for this type of support. At the very least, discussing your options with a lawyer may help you figure out whether or not you would like to pursue compensation for your health concerns. Some of the most common reasons that individuals file for workers’ compensation are to address the costs resulting from:

Repetitive motion injuries

Head and brain injuries

Neck and back injuries

Shoulder and hip injuries

It can be complicated to go through a workers’ compensation claim on your own. Fortunately, by retaining the services of a knowledgeable lawyer, you may be able to work through your claim as easily and quickly as possible.

Non-Employer Responsibility for Workplace Injuries

While workers’ compensation claims require proof of injuries that arise both out of and in the course of employment, in certain situations, there may be third parties who are also responsible for injuries or deaths that occur in the workplace. In these cases, different and often additional compensation is allowed by law than that provided for by the Iowa statutory workers’ compensation schedule of compensation.

The trial lawyers at LaMarca Law Group, P.C., have extensive experience in determining whether or not third parties are responsible for work-related injuries. In the past, these third parties have included persons or companies who sold, marketed, or failed to properly maintain equipment leased or sold to the employer for use on the job site; did not provide proper warnings for volatile or flammable materials or other latent hazards; or whose negligence led to electrical, propane, or natural gas fires and explosions or other preventable fires and explosions for which parties other than the employer were legally responsible for preventing.

Verdicts & Settlements

The results we obtained in each of these cases were based on facts, legal issues, and insurance coverage that were unique to each case. For this reason, you should not assume or expect we will obtain a result like this in your case. We present this information to show that LaMarca Law Group, P.C., has litigated large cases, complex cases, and cases arising out of a wide variety of factual scenarios. Because each case is different, prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $1,000,000 for a 48-year-old truck driver who suffered a brain injury in a single-vehicle accident. The employer originally denied the claim, asserting that the driver had deviated from his employment at the time of the injury by driving an alternate route.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $320,000 for a worker who slipped on ice in the employee parking lot and suffered a fractured skull.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $120,000 for a school maintenance worker who suffered a torn rotator cuff.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation claim in the amount of $250,000 for a foundry worker who suffered injuries to his left and right shoulders.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation claim in the amount of $185,000 for a 58-year-old female truck driver who injured both shoulders while securing cargo.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $144,000 for a foundry worker who suffered left and right rotator cuff tears.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $148,800 for a maintenance worker who suffered a low-back injury.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $88,000 for a truck driver who sustained a low-back injury in a fall on the ice in a parking lot.

Workers’ compensation arbitration award of permanent total disability benefits for a 66-year-old horse show employee who suffered multiple injuries following the collapse of portable horse stalls. The employer alleged that the worker was an independent contractor and not an employee.

Workers’ compensation arbitration award of 80% industrial disability for a factory mechanic whose legs were run over by a forklift causing a hip injury and neuropathic pain. The employer alleged that the injury was confined to his legs.

Workers’ compensation arbitration award of permanent total disability for a truck driver who fell from his flatbed to the ground suffering an injury to his lower back. The employer and its insurance carrier alleged that the truck driver had suffered no permanent injury.

Workers’ compensation arbitration award of permanent total disability against the Second Injury Fund of Iowa for a 54-year-old shelf stocker who suffered severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $150,000 for a 57-year-old repairman who injured his low back while lifting a refrigerator.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $85,000 for a worker who injured his back while sandblasting a water tower. The employer alleged that the worker’s disability was due to a pre-existing back condition.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $52,800 for a waitress who fell while carrying trays at work and injured her neck and right shoulder. The employer was unable to accommodate her restrictions.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $32,440 for a trade school student who lost his eye while building a house. At issue was whether the student was covered under workers’ compensation.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $96,000 for a construction worker who suffered a rotator cuff tear as a result of a work-related fall.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case of $50,000 for a nurse’s aide at an assisted-living center who injured her right shoulder and neck while assisting a resident. The employer alleged that her injuries did not limit her ability to work.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case for an aviation maintenance worker in the amount of $69,600. The employer and insurance carrier alleged that the medical condition was due to a non-work injury.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation claim in the amount of $110,000 for a 29-year-old factory worker who fell off a conveyor belt at work and suffered a back injury.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $155,000 for a foundry worker who was exposed to toxic chemicals and developed permanent respiratory distress.

Settlement of a contested workers’ compensation case in the amount of $450,000 following an arbitration decision awarding permanent total disability benefits for an industrial worker who was exposed to hydrochloric acid developing reactive airway disease.

Settlement in the amount of $275,000 for a factory worker who suffered complications following hernia surgery.

Settlement in the amount of $78,000 for a delivery driver who suffered a rotator cuff tear following a fall in a parking lot.

Settlement in the amount of $62,500 for a packing plant worker who slipped and fell, injuring her shoulder.

Settlement in the amount of $47,500 for a certified nurse’s assistant who injured her back while lifting a patient at a care unit.

Settlement the amount of $70,000 for a packing plant worker who injured her low back and hip in a work-related fall.

Settlement in the amount of $250,000 for a factory worker who suffered a closed-head injury following a work-related fall.

The firm’s experience in all of the above matters demonstrates that we have dedicated many practice years in the gathering and presentation of evidence before judges, juries, administrative courts, arbitration panels, and corporate boards. While the facts and applicable law of each case are different, there is a commonality to the investigative techniques, rules of evidence, and presentation skills that form the building blocks of each and every contested matter.

Don’t Let Delay Destroy Your Rights

Workplace accidents are governed by the Statute of Limitations, which is the time limit applied to accident and injury victims and sets a time limit within which they can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries and other losses. If an injured worker takes too long to file a lawsuit, he or she may lose this right altogether, which is why it is so important for those with potential workers’ compensation claims to take action as soon as possible and contact an experienced attorney.

Contact Us

The Des Moines and Iowa workers’ compensation lawyers of LaMarca Law Group, P.C., are ready to help individuals across the state of Iowa with their workers’ compensation related issues. For a free consultation contact our offices toll-free at (515) 225-2600 or (515) 225-2600 to begin working on your claim today.