West Des Moines Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Who We Represent in West Des Moines

We represent workers across a wide range of industries. West Des Moines employers span corporate offices, healthcare systems, retail corridors, and service industries, and the injuries that arise from those workplaces vary considerably.

Our West Des Moines workers’ compensation clients work in industries including:

• Law enforcement
• Firefighting
• Medical
• Office and administration
• Education
• Transportation
• Foodservice
• Retail

Whether you work at MercyOne West Des Moines or in one of the city’s corporate offices, the risks you face are specific to your workplace and role. Our team tailors its approach to your industry and injury, rather than treating every case the same way.

What Injuries Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?

Iowa workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Benefits may be available even if the injured worker caused the accident, as long as the injury wasn’t intentional and didn’t result from conduct that disqualifies the claim under Iowa law. Workers don’t need to prove employer negligence to qualify.

Both sudden traumatic injuries and conditions that develop gradually over time are covered. Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational lung conditions from hazardous material exposure, and mental health conditions arising from workplace trauma are all recognized under Iowa law alongside more visible physical injuries.

Our firm has handled contested workers’ compensation cases involving:

• Back and shoulder injuries: Lifting, repetitive tasks, and sudden falls are common causes.
• Repetitive stress injuries: Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome often arise in office and administrative settings.
• Occupational illness: Workers exposed to chemicals, acids, or hazardous materials may qualify for benefits. We obtained a $450,000 settlement for an industrial worker who developed reactive airway disease from hydrochloric acid exposure, and $155,000 for a foundry worker with permanent respiratory distress from toxic chemical exposure.
• Traumatic brain injuries: We secured a $250,000 settlement for a factory worker who suffered a closed-head injury in a work-related fall.
• Mental health conditions: Emergency responders in West Des Moines sometimes file claims for PTSD or anxiety stemming from traumatic on-the-job events. These claims are increasingly recognized under Iowa law.

If you’re unsure whether your injury or illness qualifies, contact our firm for a free consultation. Past results don’t guarantee the same outcome in your case, but they reflect our willingness to take on difficult, contested claims.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Under Iowa Law

Iowa law provides a structured set of benefits covering medical costs, lost wages, and long-term recovery. Under Iowa Code §85.27, your employer must provide reasonable and necessary medical care for a work-related injury, including surgical, medical, rehabilitative, and nursing services, medications, medical supplies, and mileage reimbursement for travel to appointments.

Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may be entitled to:

• Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits: Replaces a portion of lost wages when you can’t work at all while recovering.
• Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits: May apply if you return to lower-paying light-duty work before reaching full recovery.
• Permanent disability benefits: Available once you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). Iowa distinguishes between scheduled member injuries (hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes) and body-as-a-whole injuries such as back, hip, neck, and head injuries, which are compensated based on loss of earning capacity.
• Iowa Second Injury Fund: Provides additional benefits when a worker who already has a permanent disability in one hand, arm, foot, leg, or eye suffers a subsequent permanent injury to a different hand, arm, foot, leg, or eye.
• Vocational retraining: If your injury prevents you from returning to your prior position, you may qualify for job training or educational assistance.
• Death benefits: Qualifying surviving family members may be entitled to benefits if a work injury results in death.

Iowa’s workers’ compensation system is administered by the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). We help clients track expenses, handle paperwork, and meet filing deadlines from the first report of injury through resolution of the claim.

Why West Des Moines Workers Choose LaMarca Law Group, P.C.

Our results in contested workers’ compensation cases reflect what a multidisciplinary legal team can accomplish. We secured a $1,000,000 settlement for a truck driver with a brain injury and a $320,000 settlement for a worker who fractured his skull in an employee parking lot. These weren’t straightforward cases. They required investigators, accountants, and attorneys working together, which is the same structure we bring to every contested claim.

Third-Party Liability & Workplace Safety

When a third party beyond the employer shares responsibility for a workplace injury, we pursue that liability separately from the Iowa statutory workers’ compensation schedule. Equipment manufacturers, independent contractors, property owners, and other drivers can all be responsible parties. We’ve also litigated cases involving companies that failed to provide adequate warnings for volatile or flammable materials, with negligence leading to electrical fires, propane explosions, and other preventable incidents. Several of those cases contributed to changes to workplace safety standards and laws that now protect workers beyond our individual clients.

From New Hires to Corporate Executives

Our workers’ compensation attorneys in West Des Moines, IA represent every injured worker, from cashiers to corporate leaders. No matter your title or tenure, you deserve access to the full benefits Iowa law provides. We can guide you through the claims process and help you understand where your case stands at each step.

Call us at (515) 705-0233 or contact us online. Our work comp attorneys in West Des Moines are ready to help you now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to report a work injury in West Des Moines?

Iowa law requires you to notify your employer as soon as possible after a workplace injury. Under Iowa Code §85.23, waiting more than 90 days from when you knew or should have known the injury arose from employment may result in denial of benefits. Separately, Iowa Code §85.26 sets filing deadlines: two years from the injury date if no disability benefits have been paid, or three years from the last benefit payment if weekly disability benefits were paid.

Can I see my own doctor for a workers’ compensation claim?

In Iowa, your employer or its insurer may select your treating physician. You can request a change if you’re unhappy with the care, following specific state procedures. If the employer denies that request, an attorney can petition the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation on your behalf.

Do temporary and part-time workers qualify for workers’ compensation benefits?

Temporary, part-time, and seasonal workers in Iowa are generally covered by workers’ compensation laws. Most employers must carry workers’ comp insurance covering nearly all employees, regardless of hours worked or length of employment.

What should I do if my workers’ compensation claim is denied?

A denial isn’t final. Under Iowa Code §86.13, if a claim is denied or benefits are cut off without a reasonable excuse, you may be entitled to penalty benefits of up to 50% of the denied, late, or terminated weekly benefits. An attorney can file a petition for arbitration with the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation on your behalf. Acting quickly matters because filing deadlines apply.