On November 21 a semi-truck driver struck 2 vehicles head on killing one woman and injuring another who was taken to Mercy Medical Center. We all have to remember to slow down for winter weather driving conditions. This is an unfortunate accident which could have been prevented, but instead has forever changed the lives of two Iowa families. To learn more about issues involving Iowa truck accidents log onto www.IowaTruckAccident.com.

1. Medical Benefits- Lifetime medical benefits for medical treatment, including doctors’ appointments, prescriptions, mileage, etc related to your work injury.

2. Healing Period/Temporary Disability (TTD/TPD) Benefits- These are the weekly payments made to an injured worker while they are healing from their work injury and are either not able to return to their job, is only able to work a limited number of hours or is not making as much as they were before the work injury work.

3. Permanent Benefits- At some point the doctors will say that you have healed as much as possible which is also known as maximum medical improvement (MMI). At that point, your benefits change from temporary to permanent. If your medical condition heals and you are left with no permanent problems, then you probably do not have a claim for permanent disability benefits. If you have a permanent impairment rating and/or permanent restrictions, then you are likely owed permanent disability benefits. You need an attorney who understands the specialized Iowa workers’ compensation laws.

For more information and our FREE special report entitled “Iowa Workers’ Compensation- The Legal Insider’s Guide” which exposes the “7 Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work.” Call 1-800-707-2552 and enter ext. 211. (24 Hour Recorded Message) CALL NOW to learn how to protect your rights and avoid a costly mistake. For further information log onto www.IowaWorkInjury.com or for immediate assistance Call Toll Free- 888-792-3595. Why would I offer Free Reports? I have heard too many horror stories about people making mistakes because they did not know their legal rights which resulted in them losing thousands of dollars.

We have spoken with dozens of injured workers who did not even know that the Second Injury Fund existed. We have recovered almost $1,000,000 in Second Injury Fund benefits for injured workers who learned for the first time when we told them that they qualified.

If you previously sustained a scheduled member injury (arm, hand, leg, knee, foot, eye, etc.) even if it was not work related, and then sustain a work related scheduled member injury you may be entitled to additional benefits under the Iowa Second Injury Fund Act. Please keep in mind that prior medical conditions such as arthritis, carpel tunnel, vision loss, etc. followed by a scheduled member work related injury may qualify you for additional benefits. If you think that you may qualify for Second Injury Fund benefits then you should have my FREE special report entitled “Iowa Workers’ Compensation- The Legal Insider’s Guide”. This new reveals what you must do to preserve your work injury claim, insurance company tactics, whether you can be fired after a work injury, the Injured Workers’ Bills of Rights and 5 things to know before hiring an attorney. Why would I offer Free Reports? I have have heard too many horror stories about people making mistakes because they did not know their legal rights which resulted in them losing thousands of dollars.

If you or a loved one has been injured at work then you may be worried or confused about what to do next. This FREE special report also exposes the “7 Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work.” To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your copy, call 1-800-707-2552 and enter ext. 211. (24 Hour Recorded Message) or Email- Report@InjuredIowan.com (Send Ext. 211). CALL NOW to learn how to protect your rights and avoid a costly mistake. For further information log onto www.IowaWorkInjury.com or for immediate assistance to determine if you qualify for Second Injury Fund benefits Call Toll Free- 888-792-3595.

The average car insurance premium in Iowa is $664 per year which is $22 less than the 2^nd lowest state Wisconsin. Iowa’s low insurance rates are because we have good drivers and surprisingly because we have good credit scores. Yes, your credit score is used to determine the amount of car insurance that you pay. The higher your credit score the less you will pay. This is another good reason to be financially responsible.

Despite our low insurance premiums, you and your family may be at risk. According to a study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), the estimated percentage of uninsured drivers in the United States increased from 12.7% in 1999 to 14.6% in 2004. From our experience close to 20% of Iowans drive with no insurance.

How much insurance coverage do you have if you are hit by an uninsured driver? $20,000, $50,000 or more. Yes, your insurance policy limits the amount of coverage that you have if you or a family member are injured by an uninsured driver.

We are offering an exclusive new FREE book entitled “How to Buy Car Insurance to Protect You and Your Family” which is an Insider’s look into car insurance. Our publisher originally published 1,000 of these books and we are down to the last 150 so quantities are limited so act now to learn “5 Insider Secrets” to buying the “right” car insurance from someone who does not sell insurance. To find out more you can log onto our web page www.IowaInsuranceBook.com or to hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy, call 1-800-850-6617 and enter ext. 514. (24 Hour Recorded Message) or Email- Book@WalkLaw.com (Send Ext. 514).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 2% of the U.S. population is bitten or attacked by a dog each year. This translates to more than 5 million dog bite victims every year, most of whom are children. Every day approximately 1,000 dog bite victims go to hospital emergency rooms. During the past 10 years, the number of dogs in the United States increased by only 2%, while the number of dog bites increased by more than 33%. Dog bite losses exceed $1 billion per year, with $345 million being paid by homeowner insurance policies.

Our new FREE Special Report Reveals:

· 8 Things to Do If Bitten

· 7 Myths About Dog Bites

· 3 Ways to Avoid Dog Bites to Begin With

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog or other animal, then you should have this report. Even if you are not a dog bite victim, but you or your family is around dogs, then you should have this report for the 3 ways to avoid a dog bite to begin with. Also, this FREE special report exposes “5 Mistakes Made by Injured Iowans.” To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your copy of this report, Call 1-800-707-2552 and enter ext. 213. (24 Hour Recorded Message) or Email- Report@InjuredIowan.com (Send Ext. 213). CALL NOW to learn how to Protect Your Rights. For further information log onto www.DogBiteBook.com or for immediate assistance Call Toll Free- 888-792-3595 and ask for Corey.

According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a full 36% of nursing home workers interviewed said that they had witnessed other employees physically abuse residents. Each year hundreds of Iowans are injured in nursing homes because of negligent care and abuse. As the number of nursing home residents increase so does the number of injuries. A new FREE book reveals:

· 8 myths about nursing home care

· Why nursing home injuries are on the rise?

· What can be done to prevent injuries and abuse?

· 5 things to know before hiring an attorney.

If you suspect that a loved one has been a victim of nursing home negligence or abuse; or if you even just have a loved one in a nursing home then you should have this book. This book exposes the “4 Signs that Your Loved One May be a Victim of Abuse or Neglect” and what can be done about it. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your copy of this book, Call 1-800-707-2552 and enter ext. 517. (24 Hour Recorded Message) or Email- Book@InjuredIowan.com (Send Ext. 517). CALL NOW to learn how to Protect the Rights of You and Your Loved Ones. For further information log onto www.NursingHomeInjuryBook.com or for immediate assistance Call Toll Free- 888-792-3595.

An alarming fact is that there are an increasing number of motorcycle crashes every year on Iowa’s roads. A motorcycle crash is a violent and dangerous event with almost 90% of all reported motorcycle crashes resulting in injury or death to the motorcyclist.

How Can I Prevent From Becoming a Motorcycle Crash Statistic?

Training- 92% of motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training. They often are self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces the number of crashes and reduces the severity of injuries in crashes.

Do Not Drink and Drive- Almost one-half of the all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol use by the motorcycle rider.

Proper Maintenance- while only 3% of motorcycle crashes involve vehicle failures, most of them are single vehicle accidents where the rider lost control because of a flat tire. Losing control at high speed often results in injuries to the rider.

If you or a loved one ride a motorcycle, you should have a copy of our new book entitled “Iowa Consumers Guide to Motorcycle Crashes.” This FREE book exposes 10 Myths About Motorcycle Crashes, What You Should Never Do If You Are In An Accident, 7 Common Mistakes Made by Injured Iowans and much, much more. Why would we offer a FREE book? Well, we have seen far too many of our clients come to see us months after a motorcycle accident, sometimes after they have made fatal mistakes which damaged their case. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE Book, Call 1-800-707-2552, Ext. 515. (24 Hour Recorded Message) or Email- Book@InjuredIowan.com (Send Ext. Number). As a Special Bonus just for contacting us receive our Injured Iowans First Fee Schedule^TM, a new approach to attorney fees in injury cases. CALL NOW to learn how to Protect your Rights and avoid common mistakes. For further information log onto www.MotorcycleAccidentBook.com

There is no workers’ compensation crisis in Iowa. In fact, Iowa’s workers’ compensation system was given an “A” when compared to other states by the Work Loss Data Institute. “State Report Cards for Workers’ Comp” Work Loss Data Institute 2/24/03, p. 3. Some of the reasons for their findings were because Iowa has the lowest percentage of work injuries requiring a worker to miss work and the best outcome for injured workers with low back strains for example. “State Report Cards for Workers’ Comp” Work Loss Data Institute 2/24/03, p. 2.

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (an Institute funded by insurance and management) on May 10, 2004, finished an exhaustive study of Iowa’s system and concluded “Iowa has achieved a number of results that have eluded other states - namely, higher maximum weekly benefit levels to workers and stable costs to employers. Iowa pays disability benefits at 80 percent of the workers’ weekly “spendable earnings” (after taxes are deducted) at the time of the injury. (emphasis added). The only bad thing the Institute found is that the state legislature has not properly funded the agency which has increased delays in resolving disputed claims.

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance from 2002 to 2003, there was actually a decline in benefits paid to injured workers in Iowa. 2005 National Academy of Social Insurance- Workers’ Compensation: Benefits, Coverage and Costs.

Furthermore, according to Risk and Insurance, Iowa’s workers’ compensation costs are 20% below the national average. (”If a manufacturing firm located entirely within Connecticut had insurance costs of $121,000 (21 percent above national average), and moved to Iowa, the manufacturer’s costs would decline to $80,000, or 20 percent below the national average. In California, the insurance bill would jump to $227,000.”) Risk and Insurance, March 3, 2003 Cover Story.

Iowa businesses are not leaving the state of Iowa and new businesses are not locating elsewhere because of the workers’ compensation system. The fact is that Iowa’s system costs 20% less than the national average. Increased corporate and insurance company profits are the only reason to reduce benefits to injured workers in a state given an “A” for being a balanced system. It is not acceptable to place increased profits before injured Iowa workers’ providing the basics of food and shelter to their family when the system is working fine. The legislature should be focused on keeping the businesses we have and promoting new businesses to come to Iowa where our workers’ compensation rates are 20% below the national average and our system is fair to both business and its workers.

If you are injured in a work accident and/or suffer from an occupational disease at work, Iowa law says you are entitled to receive the following benefits: 

Lifelong Medical Treatment:  Your employer is responsible for paying for all medical care necessary to treat your injury.  This includes all forms of care and treatment, whether hospital, medical, therapy, nursing, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical rehabilitation or pain management. The right to medical care and treatment may continue for the rest of your life for conditions related to your accidental injury or occupational disease.     

Cash Payments While You Recover And Cannot Work: While you are healing and unable to work, you will receive cash payments to replace your usual earnings.  The amount of your payment is based upon your average weekly earnings when injured or disabled. 

Mileage Expenses:  You are entitled to be reimbursed at the rate of $.405 per mile for all mileage you incur going to and from doctors appointments, physical therapy visits, etc. 

Cash Payments for Permanent Disability:  If your work injury or occupational disease causes a permanent impairment, you are entitled to a cash award for the resulting disability.  The amount of the award is based on the part or parts of the body involved, the nature and extent of your disability and the amount of your average weekly earnings when you were hurt or disabled.  

The following are examples of how many weeks of benefits you would receive multiplied by your percentage of disability. Examples of Scheduled Member Injuries:

• Arm-  250 weeks, e.g. a 10% arm impairment equals 25 weeks of benefits. 
• Leg-   220 weeks, e.g. a 15% leg impairment equals 33 weeks of benefits. 
• Hand- 190 weeks, e.g. a 20% arm impairment equals 38 weeks of benefits. 

 NOTE: You may be entitled to additional benefits for a scheduled member injury depending on whether or not you have sustained previous injuries, etc. Examples of Unscheduled Member Injuries: 

• Shoulder- Percentage based upon 500 weeks of available benefits.  For example an 8% body as a whole shoulder impairment rating equals a minimum of 40 weeks of benefits.  However, depending on many factors including lifting and activity restrictions imposed an 8% shoulder impairment rating could result in a 100 weeks or more in benefits. 
• Back- Percentage based upon 500 weeks of available benefits.  For example a 10% body as a whole back impairment rating equals a minimum of 50 weeks of benefits.  However, depending on many factors including lifting and activity restrictions imposed, a 10% shoulder impairment rating could result in 120 weeks or more in benefits. 
• Neck- Percentage based upon 500 weeks of available benefits.  For example a 15% body as a whole neck impairment rating equals a minimum of 75 weeks of benefits.  However, depending on many factors including lifting and activity restrictions imposed a 15% neck impairment rating could result in 150 weeks or more in benefits. 
• Brain- Percentage based upon 500 weeks of available benefits.  For example a 20% body as a whole brain injury impairment rating equals a minimum of 100 weeks of benefits.  However, depending on many factors including lifting and activity restrictions imposed a 20% brain impairment rating could result in 200 weeks or more in benefits. 

2nd Injury Fund:  If you previously sustained a scheduled member injury (arm, leg, etc.), whether or not it was work related, and then sustain another scheduled member injury then you may be entitled to additional benefits under the Iowa Second Injury Fund for your loss.  

Independent Medical Examination:  You have the right to have one independent medical examination performed by a doctor of your own choosing for an impairment rating and permanent restrictions. There are several doctors that I will recommend depending on the nature of your injury.    

Death: Damages for the death of a worker are available for the wife, husband, parent and child of the deceased person.  Sometimes, persons related by blood or marriage, who were dependent upon the deceased, may recover.  Damages are compensation for the lifetime of the beneficiary.  

(WARNING:  CHANGES IN THE LAW CONCERNING DAMAGES OCCUR FREQUENTLY.  YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY WITH RESPECT TO THESE CHANGES.)