Injured Iowans face an overwhelming system of deadlines, documentation, and decision-making. Nate Boulton provides not only essential legal context but a practical practical Iowa workers comp guide for injured workers.
Notify your employer of an injury in 90 days
The conversation begins with a vital warning: workers can begin to lose their rights very quickly after an incident. Boulton outlines the dual-timeline structure of Iowa’s workers’ compensation system—a 90-day window to notify an employer of an injury and a two- to three-year statute of limitations to file a claim. “You have to make sure the employer has notice of your injury within 90 days of it happening,” Boulton explains. “If you get outside that 90 days, it is really hard to find a way to say the employer had some sort of actual notice without you notifying them directly.”
What is considered an injury in Iowa?
Brady challenges the idea that injury is black and white—either a person is injured or not. Boulton explains that many claims are cumulative in nature, such as repetitive strain injuries, where symptoms escalate over time. In such cases, timely employer notification is still critical. Although Iowa law does not require formalized reporting, Boulton advises documenting your injury via email to HR or supervisors: “Anything to show that, yeah, I have let them know that this is a work comp claim.”
Can you pick your own healthcare provider when injured?
In discussing medical care, Boulton emphasizes Iowa’s rare “employer choice of care” model, where employers select the initial care provider. While employees can always seek their own physician, reimbursement is only required if the care is deemed unauthorized or denied unreasonably. If treatment like an MRI is denied, workers can pursue “alternate medical care” through legal channels. “You have to have a reasonable basis for denying that diagnostic study,” Boulton says. “If it’s not [reasonable], care switches over to the employee’s choice.”
What is an “impairment rating”?
Another key turning point comes when permanent impairment ratings are issued. That’s the moment Boulton says legal advice becomes essential. “At that point, almost every workers’ compensation attorney is going to give you a free consultation,” he notes. Importantly, Boulton emphasizes that legal fees are only charged based on additional compensation secured, not on the benefits a worker was already entitled to. “You’re not going to be in a scenario where you came into my office and you’re paying me for things you were going to get no matter what.”
This episode functions as both a legal primer and a practical checklist for injured workers in Iowa. Boulton’s detailed breakdowns—from what constitutes “notice,” to what workers can expect if medical care is denied—make this a must-listen for any Iowan navigating the aftermath of a workplace injury.
Contact Information:
This workers comp guide for injured workers is not legal advice for you specifically. Because all situations are different, schedule a free consultation with Nate by visiting workerslawyers.com
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