Local Representation For Your Workplace Injury Case
My name is Nicholas Platt, and I have been practicing Iowa workers’ compensation law since 2008. If you suffered a serious neck injury at work, I want you to know that you have options, and I am here to help you fight for the benefits you deserve. At Platt Law Firm P.C. I represent only injured workers, never employers or insurance companies.
I personally attend to every detail of each client’s case myself. You will not be handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate. From the first phone call to the final resolution of your claim, I am the one working on your case.
When you call my Urbandale office, a real person always answers the phone. My experienced staff handles intake in person at our office, so you can sit down with us and tell us what happened in a comfortable, private, low-pressure environment. Our team includes two Spanish-speaking staff members, so we are able to serve workers who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish.
If you are a worker in Des Moines or anywhere else in Central Iowa and your neck injury workers’ compensation claim has been denied, contact Platt Law Firm P.C. to schedule a free legal consultation with me.
Neck injuries are another common workplace-related injury. Neck injuries can cause pain, weakness, tingling sensation or numbness in your limbs.
In extreme cases, neck injuries make moving your head extremely difficult. These injuries can be caused by performing repetitive strenuous activities or from a traumatic accident.
Because neck injuries affect your ability to perform your daily tasks efficiently, it is important you get treated by a physician as soon as possible. Daily activities such as driving, lifting heavy objects, and sleeping will become difficult if a neck injury is left untreated.
Most neck injuries occur from accidents, falls or overexertion during strenuous repetitive work activities. These types of injuries usually require immediate medical attention and treatment.
Neck injuries happen in workplaces across Central Iowa every day. Some industries see these injuries more often than others, simply because of the physical demands they place on workers. Here are some of the industries where neck injuries are most common.
No matter what industry you work in, if your neck injury happened at work or was made worse by your work, you may have a valid workers’ compensation claim. I encourage you to call my office so we can talk through what happened and help you understand your rights.
Common workers’ compensation benefits for these injuries cover medical costs, lost wages, payment for permanent impairment, and industrial disability in some cases. Here is a closer look at what each of these benefit types means for you.
Understanding which benefits apply to your situation and making sure you receive the full amount you are entitled to is exactly the kind of work I do for my clients every day. Insurance companies do not always volunteer the full picture, and having an experienced workers’ compensation attorney on your side can make a real difference in the outcome of your claim.
In Iowa, when a doctor says you have reached maximum medical improvement, but you can no longer do the job you had before your injury, the workers’ compensation system has a way of addressing that. You may be entitled to industrial disability benefits, which take into account not just your physical impairment rating but also the real-world impact of your injury on your ability to earn a living.
The key factors considered in an industrial disability determination include your age, your level of education, your prior work history and skills, and the practical limitations your neck injury places on the kind of work you can realistically do going forward. If you are an older worker with a long history in a physically demanding field and your injury prevents you from doing that work, the industrial disability award may be significantly higher than a simple impairment rating would suggest.
No, Iowa workers’ compensation does not replace 100 percent of your wages. Temporary total disability benefits, which are the payments you receive when you are completely unable to work due to your injury, are generally calculated at 80 percent of your spendable weekly earnings, which works out to roughly two-thirds of your gross average weekly wage. The exact amount depends on your individual earnings and is subject to a maximum weekly benefit set by the state of Iowa, which is updated periodically.
This gap between your regular paycheck and your workers’ compensation benefit is one of the reasons it is so important to make sure your average weekly wage is calculated correctly from the start. Errors in that calculation can reduce your benefit amount throughout the entire period of your claim. If you believe your wage calculation is wrong, or if you are not sure how your benefit amount was determined, as your workers’ comp lawyer I can review your case and help make sure the numbers are right.
Platt Law Firm P.C. I handle workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay any attorney fees unless I recover benefits for you. If I am successful in obtaining a settlement or award on your behalf, my fee is a percentage of that recovery.
If you call my office for a free consultation, I will explain exactly how the fee arrangement works so there are no surprises.
Workers’ compensation claims are common in today’s society. Many workers will be injured at least once during their lifetime. If you or someone you love was hurt on the job, you should seek out legal assistance from Platt Law Firm P.C. a workers’ compensation law firm that represents only injured workers, not insurance companies. Call me today for a free consultation at 515-278-1522. I will evaluate your case for free and let you know your rights.
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