If you’ve been injured at work and are considering filing for workers’ compensation benefits, you’re going to need to have your injuries documented by a healthcare professional. Not only is a professional medical exam required, it also makes it much more difficult for the insurance company to question the legitimacy of your claim. Getting medical care after a work injury is a little different than what you might experience if you’re going in for your annual check-up, so in today’s blog, we share five tips for handling your medical appointments following a Minnesota work injury.
Getting Medical Treatment After A Work Injury
If you want to give yourself the best chance to earn a compensation award following a work injury, keep these five tips in mind in regards to your medical appointments.
1. Choose A Trusted Physician– Your employer may recommend that you see a specific physician to be evaluated for your injuries, but you have final say in where you go for care. Choose a provider that you personally trust, or connect with a workers’ compensation attorney and see if they have any recommendations. Odds are they’ve worked with physicians in the past who have provided fair and quality evaluations.
2. Don’t Wait – The longer you wait to be seen by a doctor, the more red flags it raises with the insurance company. Don’t let them question the legitimacy of your claim. Even if you’re not totally sure that you’re going to pursue a claim, have your injuries assessed and documented by a professional within 24-72 hours if possible.
3. Know What To Bring – You can make the process easier on yourself and your doctor if you show up to this medical appointment with some specific information. Helpful information to bring to your initial appointment and any follow-up appointments include:
- Name and contact information of your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider
- Name of the attorney or law firm you’ve hired
- Names of any doctors or healthcare organizations that have previously treated you
- List of any current medications you’re taking
- Any forms you’ve been told need to be signed by your treating physician.
4. Know What To Leave With– You’ll also want to make sure that you leave the appointments with any documents related to your examination or recommended care. There’s a good chance that your doctor will provide you with a Report of Work Ability, and you’ll want to make sure that you, your lawyer and your insurance adjuster all have a copy of this form. Don’t leave your medical appointment empty-handed.
5. Be Honest– Finally, the last piece of advice we share with all clients before they head in for a medical exam is to be honest. If you embellish your symptoms or lie about how the injury occurred, there’s a good chance that your doctor will be able to tell, and that can cause major problems for your injury case. Be direct, concise and honest when working with your doctor, and we’re confident that you’ll receive a fair examination.
We know that if you follow these tips and you trust the process to a dedicated team of injury lawyers that you’ll be satisfied with the outcome of your case. For more tips, or for assistance managing any aspect of your injury claim, reach out to the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.
