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Once a person sustains an injury at work, they might wonder if they have to see a doctor, especially if the damage was not severe. Here is a complete guide on what they should do.
When Do Injured Workers Have to See a Doctor?
The most commonly asked question that clients might have when they suffer from a workplace injury is 'when do I have to see a doctor?' In this case, the first thing they should keep in mind is that the answer varies depending on the state they're in.
However, regardless of that, any workers' compensation insurance company requires the person to report the injury and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Thus, the employee obviously can't wait for long until they get help from a certified healthcare professional.
The best way to proceed once someone has a work-related injury is for them to tell their employer within the first 24 hours of the issue. Then, the employer might probably tell them how to proceed next.
Employers often have a list of approved physicians that employees can rely on to treat a work-related injury. Therefore, they can show workers who they can go to and guarantee that they help them through the process.
However, going to the employer straight away is sometimes not possible, and that also makes sense. If the person sustained a severe injury, they might have to go to the nearest emergency room before telling their boss.
The Doctor's Role When Workplace Injuries Occur
Injured workers often wonder what's the doctor's job with regard to their injuries, especially if the employees know that the wounds are mild or insignificant.
Overall, what employees should keep in mind is that medical care is essential regardless of the type of injury the person sustains. A workers' comp doctor is in charge of assessing the patient and determining the intensity of the damage, and then, if the worker wants to file a claim and get coverage from an insurance company, their medical records serve as evidence for the case.
At the same time, the doctor also provides treatment for the injured worker, which is essential for their recovery and also crucial if they want to get workers' compensation benefits.
While some people might not be worried about health care coverage when they sustain a work-related injury, they should keep in mind that going with the doctor designated for the job is always the best idea. It allows them to get medical benefits, seek treatment, and work their way toward recovery.
Do Workers Need Medical Treatment for their Workers' Compensation Claim?
Employees always need to seek medical treatment if they want to get workers' compensation. They don't necessarily have to pay for all the expenses if they can't afford them (that's what part of the compensation is for), but they'll need to prove to the judge that they attended a treating physician who can provide evidence and medical records to support the injury they sustained.
On some occasions, when someone is injured on the job, they have cameras and are able to get footage of what happened. Thus, filing a claim is much easier because they have physical evidence of how the damage occurred.
However, in other cases, cameras aren't around. On some occasions, even though there are cameras, the person's employer and state laws require them to attend a BWC-certified doctor or other types of a certified medical provider to prove that they got a diagnosis and are starting to receive treatment.
How Does Someone Know if They Qualify for Workers' Comp?
Most people qualify for workers' compensation as soon as they sustain an injury at work. However, that doesn't mean that everyone will get the benefits.
Once someone files for workers' comp, there has to be an investigation to determine whether or not they should get the benefits.
In some instances, for example, attorneys and employers might find that the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they injured themselves. If this occurs, they'll probably not get the benefits.
However, in many other instances, an injured worker did sustain their wound on the job due to negligence or other work-related factors. If that's the case, then they should seek medical care, inform their employer, and file a workers' comp claim.
Taking Good Care of a Workplace Injury
Asides from what the doctor might say about treatment, there are other things that a person should keep in mind when they sustain a work injury. The first one is that they're allowed to seek a second opinion if that's what they want.
Additionally, the person should keep in mind that their employer should never try to force them to keep working, especially if they are in pain or suffering the negative consequences of the injury they're handling.
Rules governing workers' comp might vary from state to state, but law experts take a client's best interest at heart because they are meant to protect them. Therefore, the last way to make sure the person is on the path to recovery is that they hire an attorney to alleviate some burden off their shoulders as they try to get workers' compensation and deal with their injuries.
Should the Person Hire an Attorney?
Considering the previously mentioned aspects, workers should always hire attorneys, especially if they want to get workers' compensation.
The attorney-client relationship is one of the most crucial aspects of winning claims, particularly because it's what allows clients to be fully honest with their lawyers, explain what happened, and allow them to passionately defend their case.
Workers who are filing a claim should always contact a workers' comp lawyer in Columbus Ohio to help them. Therefore, it's never too late to do so, even if it's been a few days after the event.
Contact Larrimer & Larrimer Today
Larrimer & Larrimer is one of the top firms workers can trust to file workers' comp in Ohio. Our lawyers are passionate and they deeply care about their clients, so they offer a free consultation to anyone who wants it. So for those who have other concerns, including if one can change jobs while on workers' compensation, contact them for guidance.