After an injury in the workplace, the medical care that you receive plays a major role in whether or not you qualify for workers' compensation benefits. Everything, from the doctor you choose to when you get treatment, is important to your case. Here is what you need to know about medical treatment and your workplace injury.
When to Get Treatment
Ideally, you should get treatment as soon as you are injured. Even if you think that your injury is minor, it is important that you are checked out by a medical care provider.
One of the most important reasons for getting treatment immediately following an injury is that it helps bring credibility to your claims. It also helps to counter claims by your employer's insurance company that your injuries were from a previous incident that was not in the workplace.
Which Medical Care Provider to Use
When you are first injured, you should seek treatment in an emergency room. Once you are discharged and report the injury to your employer, there is a good chance that the insurance company will push for you to get treatment from a doctor of its choice.
Even though the provider that the insurance company sends you to might be good, he or she has an incentive to not be totally upfront about your condition. The doctor is paid by your employer's insurance company and might be pushed to declare you well long before you are actually physically able to return to work.
It is important that you receive care from the doctor you want. Talk to your workers compensation lawyer. He or she can inform the insurance company that you will be using your own doctor. If the insurance company objects, your attorney can file a grievance with the state's labor board. Legally, you have the right to get care from your own doctor.
What to Say
Regardless of whether you use your own doctor or stick with the insurance company's choice, it is important that you say the right things during examinations. Tell the complete truth about what happened. You also need to tell the doctor about every pain or symptom that you are experiencing.
Ensure the doctor is recording what you way. Your medical records will be carefully reviewed by the insurance company and possibly the state, if your claim is denied. No detailed record of your injuries could translate to major problems with getting paid.
Your workers' compensation attorney will discuss any other details you need to know about medical treatment and your claim. Remember, confer with your attorney about your case frequently to avoid putting your case at risk for denial.
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