Iowa Workers Compensation

10/27/2026

🩺 Doctor Tuesday: Davenport, Cedar Rapids or Fort Madison worker driving to appointments for a work injury? Your mileage generally counts.

Iowa law says the employer must allow reasonably necessary transportation expenses for work-injury medical care (Iowa Code § 85.27).

How to keep track:
1️⃣ Write down each trip: date, doctor or therapy clinic, and round-trip miles.
2️⃣ Include physical therapy, specialists, and exams the insurer sets up.
3️⃣ Send the log to the insurance adjuster regularly, and keep a copy.

Tip: a small notebook in your truck works fine. Miles you never wrote down are hard to get paid for later.

💬 How far has the company sent you for appointments?

Save this. Questions: (319) 754-6400
Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/26/2026

🏭 Muscatine, Davenport or Ottumwa worker whose shoulder has been hurting at work? Write these 5 things down now.

1️⃣ The date you first noticed it, and the date a doctor first said work could be the cause. In Iowa, the 90-day notice clock generally runs from when you knew or should have known work caused it.
2️⃣ The tasks that hurt: overhead reaching, lifting, pulling, and about how many times a shift.
3️⃣ Who you told, when, and how. Put it in writing and keep a copy.
4️⃣ Every doctor visit and every restriction you're given.
5️⃣ Your impairment rating and which doctor gave it. Ask for it in writing.

Why it matters: for injuries since July 1, 2017, a shoulder is paid on a 400-week schedule based on the impairment rating (Iowa Code § 85.34). If the employer's doctor's rating seems too low, Iowa Code § 85.39 may let you get a second opinion from a doctor you choose, reimbursed by the employer.

💬 Has anyone on your crew had a shoulder surgery from work?

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Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/23/2026

| Even “small” work injuries can have ripple effects—pain that lingers, infections, or stress that affects your focus and daily life. Recognizing the importance of every injury is key to protecting both your health and your rights. https://www.pothitakislaw.com/blog/2025/december/do-small-work-injury-cases-need-a-lawyer-why-gui/ #~2a2b3264-05f8-46af-8972-d3d06cd217ce

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Learn how minor work injuries can affect compensation and your rights.

10/22/2026

FACTORY WORKERS: KNOW YOUR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RIGHTS under Iowa Law.
Factory work can be physically demanding, and workplace injuries can happen in an instant—or develop over time from repetitive movements, heavy lifting, and constant strain.

Here are 4 important things every factory worker should know:
✅ Report Your Injury — Notify your employer as soon as possible. Delays can affect your ability to receive benefits.
✅ Get Medical Attention — Seek appropriate care and keep records of your symptoms, treatment, and medical appointments.
✅ Document Everything — Keep copies of accident reports, medical records, and communications related to your injury.
✅ Know Your Options — If your claim is denied, your benefits are delayed, or you have questions about your rights, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your options. https://www.pothitakislaw.com/workers-compensation/factory-accidents/ #~2a2b3264-05f8-46af-8972-d3d06cd217ce

10/22/2026

💵 Paycheck Thursday: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City or Davenport worker off the job after a work injury? Here's what to gather to check your weekly comp rate.

1️⃣ Pay stubs for the 13 full weeks before the injury (and earlier ones if some of those weeks were short).
2️⃣ Your hourly rate and any shift differential.
3️⃣ Notes on short weeks: vacation, sick days, layoffs or slowdowns. Those weeks generally should be replaced with earlier weeks that reflect your normal pay.
4️⃣ Your marital status and number of tax exemptions. Iowa uses 80% of spendable (after-tax) earnings, so these change the rate.
5️⃣ The insurance company's rate calculation. Ask for it in writing.

Why it matters: the same rate is used later for permanent disability benefits, so a small mistake now can add up.

For injuries from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027: maximum $2,431 a week for temporary total and healing period benefits, $2,237 a week for permanent partial. The minimum is generally $425.

💬 Has anyone ever shown you how your comp check was figured?

Save this. Questions: (319) 754-6400
Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/21/2026

Workers' Compensation claim denied in Iowa--Don't give up!
A denied claim doesn't necessarily mean you're out of options.

Here are 3 steps you can take if your Iowa workers’ compensation claim is denied:
✅ 1. Find Out Why Your Claim Was Denied
Request and review the denial letter. Understanding the reason for the denial can help you determine your next steps.
✅ 2. Keep Records and Medical Documentation
Save your denial letter, medical records, accident reports, and communications with your employer or insurance company. These documents may help support your claim.
✅ 3. Talk to an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney
You may be able to challenge the denial through Iowa’s workers’ compensation dispute process. An attorney can review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand important deadlines.

Don't wait! Iowa has strict deadlines for reporting workplace injuries and pursuing benefits. Getting legal guidance early can help protect your rights. https://www.pothitakislaw.com/workers-compensation/denied-claims/ #~40632e93-1c43-4409-adc2-f978c59c4c2a

10/21/2026

🔎 Myth or Fact Wednesday: Ottumwa, Muscatine or Iowa City worker with an old injury that flared up on the job? What you tell your doctor matters.

Under Iowa workers' comp, a work injury that aggravates, speeds up or worsens a condition you already had can be covered. The question is what changed because of work. Five habits that help:

1️⃣ Be upfront about your history. Hiding an old injury can hurt you more than the old injury itself.
2️⃣ Describe before vs. after in plain terms: what you could lift, how often it hurt, what medicine you took, what work you could do.
3️⃣ Say clearly that it got worse at work, and how: the task, the date, the lift or the fall.
4️⃣ Ask your doctor whether work aggravated, accelerated or worsened the condition, and to put that in the chart.
5️⃣ Keep old records handy (prior treatment, restrictions, earlier claims). Since 2017, the employer generally isn't responsible for a disability you already had, so the doctor's explanation of what the new injury added matters.

And still report the new injury to your employer in writing. The 90-day notice rule generally applies to aggravations too.

💬 What questions do you have about old injuries and workers' comp?

Save this. Questions: (319) 754-6400
Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/21/2026

✍️ Writing up a work injury? Here's what to put in it.

Iowa law doesn't require a special form to give your employer notice of a work injury (Iowa Code § 85.24). What matters is that the notice tells your employer who was hurt, that it happened on the job, when, and where. If your employer has an incident report, use it. If not, a dated note or email to your supervisor or HR with these details generally works:

☐ Your full name
☐ Date and approximate time
☐ Where it happened (department, line, job site, vehicle)
☐ What you were doing and what happened
☐ Every body part that hurts, even the "minor" ones
☐ Who you told, and when
☐ Names of anyone who saw it
☐ The date you turned it in

📸 Before you hand it in, snap a photo of it or keep a copy.

Bonus tip: start a mileage log for trips to medical appointments. For a compensable work injury, Iowa law generally requires the employer to cover reasonably necessary transportation expenses for medical care (Iowa Code § 85.27).

And don't sit on it: notice is generally due within 90 days of when you knew or should have known the injury was work-related (§ 85.23). Sooner is better.

Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · (319) 754-6400 · https://www.pothitakislaw.com/blog/2017/december/7-things-an-employee-needs-to-know-when-injured-/
Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/20/2026

🩺 Doctor Tuesday: Hurt at work in Ottumwa, Fort Madison or Keokuk? Can you see your own doctor?

Short answer: you can always see your own doctor. The real question is who pays.

• If your employer accepts the injury, it generally chooses the treating doctor and pays for that care (Iowa Code § 85.27).
• You can still see your family doctor on your own. But care your employer didn't authorize may not be covered by workers' comp, and many health plans won't pay for a work injury either. Ask before you go.
• In an emergency, if your employer can't be reached right away, you can generally choose your own care at the employer's expense.
• If your employer denies the injury is work-related, it generally gives up the right to control your care while it denies the claim.
• Unhappy with the authorized doctor? Explain why to your employer in writing. If you can't agree, you can ask the Workers' Compensation Commissioner for alternate care.

📝 Tip: at every visit, ask for your work restrictions in writing and give a copy to your supervisor.

💬 Has your employer ever sent you to its doctor? What questions did you have?

Save this. Questions: (319) 754-6400
Pothitakis Law Firm, P.C. · Iowa matters only. General info, not legal advice.

10/20/2026

At Pothitakis Law Firm, we understand how workers’ comp claims are evaluated and what it takes to build a strong application. With over $165 million recovered for our clients, our team is ready to put our experience to work for you. Visit https://pothitakislaw.com