Workers’ compensation rules differ greatly from one state to the next. The rights that an injured employee has vary widely, as do the legal procedures that protect those rights. However, there are a few legal rights that are universally recognized in most states (including Iowa), which are: the option of filing a claim in workers’ compensation court or the state industrial court for an accident or illness. the right to see a doctor and seek medical treatment if a physician releases the worker to return to work. the right to monetary benefits for time missed from work or a resulting permanent injury following a work injury As an employee, it’s just as vital to understand the right to act as it is to understand the right to decline certain requests or offers. You have the right to be represented by a lawyer throughout the process if, for example, you are injured, and an employer encourages you to use personal health insurance to pay for medical treatment (instead of filing for workers’ compensation benefits).