Iowa Workers' Compensation - Employer Has No Insurance

Steve Lombardi

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335

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What do you do when your boss, your employer, hasn't got workers' compensation insurance coverage? I wish there was an easy answer, but there isn't. Iowa law allows you to sue the employer for more damages than you can get compensation for under workers compensation but that isn't always as satisfying as it might seem because as the old saying goes, "You can't get blood from a turnip." If they didn't buy workers' compensation insurance chances are they don't have any assets or financial resources. Because, think about it, if they did they would have purchased the insurance coverage.

Construction workers and over-the-road truck drivers, in my experience are the ones most often caught up in this dilemma. My advice is to ask before you get hurt, if your employer has workers' compensation coverage. I mean it. Ask them to produce a policy declaration page. And if they won't don't work for them.

The alternative can be miserable. Here is a blog about one such driver of a local trucking company in Waterloo.

A driver of a local trucking company here in Waterloo, IA received a lovely surprize after blowing his knee out at work. He tried everything from elevation to ice and nothing helped. His employer sent him to have it xrayed. Now he's at the occupational health clinic at the hospital and they tell him he needs surgery. Oh joy, his day just couldn't get any better. They tell him it needs to have an MRI to see just how exstensive the damage is and after they talk to the insurance company they will call him with an appointment. a week wears thin as does his patience. Now he finds out that there is some kind of problem with the insurance. Opps his boss forgot to make the payment.

So that worker is now faced with paying medical bills and no insurance to cover it. And my guess is the employer isn't taking phone calls from the medical clinic where he sent the worker for x-rays. Not a surprise.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Worksite Injuries and Workers Compensation.