# Iowa Code § 85.16: Willful injury — intoxication

> Iowa · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.16

## Section

- **Citation:** Iowa Code § 85.16
- **Heading:** Willful injury — intoxication
- **Jurisdiction:** Iowa
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** IA Code / Title III / Chapter 85 / Section 85.16

## Text

No compensation under this chapter shall be allowed for an injury caused:

(1) By the employee’s willful intent to injure the employee’s self or to willfully injure another.

(2) (a) By the employee’s intoxication, which did not arise out of and in the course of employment but which was due to the effects of alcohol or another narcotic, depressant, stimulant, hallucinogenic, or hypnotic drug not prescribed by an authorized medical practitioner, if the intoxication was a substantial factor in causing the injury.

(2) (b) For the purpose of disallowing compensation under this subsection, both of the following apply:

(2) (b) If the employer shows that, at the time of the injury or immediately following the injury, the employee had positive test results reflecting the presence of alcohol, or another narcotic, depressant, stimulant, hallucinogenic, or hypnotic drug which drug either was not prescribed by an authorized medical practitioner or was not used in accordance with the prescribed use of the drug, it shall be presumed that the employee was intoxicated at the time of the injury and that intoxication was a substantial factor in causing the injury.

(2) (b) Once the employer has made a showing as provided in subparagraph (1), the burden of proof shall be on the employee to overcome the presumption by establishing that the employee was not intoxicated at the time of the injury, or that intoxication was not a substantial factor in causing the injury.

(3) By the willful act of a third party directed against the employee for reasons personal to such employee.

[S13, §2477-m, -m1; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §1376; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §85.16]83 Acts, ch 105, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 23, §1, 24

## Nearby sections

- [Iowa Code § 85.1 Inapplicability of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.1.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.1A Proprietors, limited liability company members, limited liability partners, and partners.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.1A.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.2 Public employees chapter compulsory.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.2.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.3 Acceptance presumed — notice to nonresident employers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.3.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.16 Willful injury — intoxication.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.16.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.18 Contract to relieve not operative.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.18.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.20 Rights of employee exclusive.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.20.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.21 Payments concerning liability disputes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.21.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.22 Liability of others — subrogation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.22.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.23 Notice of injury failure to give.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.23.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.24 Form of notice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.24.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.25 Service of notice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.25.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.26 Limitation of actions — who may maintain action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.26.md)
- [Iowa Code § 85.27 Services — release of information — charges — payment — debt collection prohibited.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.27.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TIII_C85_S85.16. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.