There is a procedure that must be followed in these cases, and any tiny mistake can, unfortunately, hurt the chances of your claim being approved.
In Missouri, if you get injured on the job you can file a workers compensation claim and cover the costs of your medical treatment through these benefits. It’s like a safety net that allows both you and your employer to get over this unfortunate event and resume normal activities as soon as possible.
However, there is a procedure that must be followed in these cases, and any tiny mistake can, unfortunately, hurt the chances of your claim being approved. Additionally, other actions taken by the injured worker post-injury can also raise suspicions and complicate the entire situation. Here’s what you should and should not do after a work injury:
Provide a Written Report
By law, you need to inform your employer of your work injury, and the fact that you intend to file a workers compensation claim. However, it’s not enough to simply give a verbal notice – it needs to be in writing. Your employer should have workers compensation forms printed out in his office for these moments but, just to be sure, you can download one here.
After that, the ball is in the court of your employer, but if you skip this important step, the process comes to a halt.
What Doctor Should You Visit?
In cases of emergencies or instances where you do not know yet you are dealing with a work injury, of course, you can see any doctor you want. However, after you’ve filed the initial claim for compensation, your employer has the right to choose the physician who will be treating you, which is often left to the decision of the insurance company. In some cases, they may allow you to continue to see your own doctor, but it’s best to check. If they don’t, then all the visits you’ve made may have to be covered by you.
Follow Treatment
Because they are not seeing the doctor of their choice, many injured workers can feel suspicious of their treating physician, particularly if they come at the recommendation of the insurance company. However, even so, it is important to comply with their treatment. If you do not, that may be grounds to take you off workers comp.
Even if they are not your doctor, they are still required to do what’s in your best interest, and not what the insurance company wants. However, if you suspect your doctor is talking to the company about your treatment, discuss this with an experienced work injury attorney.
What Happens If You Make a Mistake?
Unfortunately, a common scenario here is that the insurance company stops reimbursing your medical bills. Schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced workers comp attorney at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300.