Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is essential for your health and crucial in your claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Usually, after suffering a workplace injury, it’s advisable to seek immediate medical care. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is essential for your health and crucial in your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. So, if you are wondering if you can pursue your workers’ comp claim without a doctor, the answer is no. Here are a few reasons you shouldn’t file the workers’ compensation claim without a doctor:
1. The Law Demands It
Missouri laws state that you must get a medical examination as part of filing for a workers’ compensation claim. The doctor will validate your injuries are work-related, provide evidence-based medical treatment, recommend further treatment, and work with you to determine the best way to return to work.
2. A Doctor Validates a Work Injury
A doctor will document your treatment journey right from the diagnosis, follow-up treatments, and even recommend specialized treatment like surgery. The doctor knows what type of injury you suffered, to what degree, and the cost of the expected medical procedure to ease or treat the workplace injury. Also, your doctor can inform your employer of the full scope of the injury and fill an order form to be presented to the insurer validating your claim.
3. A Doctor Is a Crucial Witness in Court
Assuming that you successfully filed a workers’ compensation claim but your employers’ insurance company rejected it partially or fully arguing that a pre-existing condition caused your injury or it happened off the clock. Then, the only evidence that would prove your claim has merit is a doctor’s record showing the medical diagnosis and the consequent visits.
4. You Risk Your Compensation Claim Getting Denied
Failure or delay in getting medical attention will generally cause the insurer to argue you were lying about your injuries. It is therefore important to seek immediate medical attention after a work injury.
It’s important to note that the insurance company is generally not there to help you. Instead, their main aim is to make a profit. Because of this, they may demand a medical examination from their doctor of choice in the hopes of disconnecting the injury from the workplace, which will enable them to nullify your claim.
In this case, it would help to work with an experienced workers’ comp attorney. An experienced attorney can help ensure you do not settle for less than you are legally entitled to.
Speak With a St. Louis Workers Compensation Attorney
Have you been injured at work? Our St. Louis workers’ compensation attorneys have over 30 years of experience helping injured Missouri workers get the compensation they are legally entitled to. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation.