Requirements for Medical Treatment in Boston Workers’ Compensation Cases
Workers’ compensation is a system designed to support injured employees who were harmed in accidents while they were on the job. Nearly all employers in Massachusetts are legally required to have workers’ compensation insurance to cover their employees. One question many injured employees have is about medical treatment and whether or not they need it. Sometimes injuries are relatively minor yet still manage to keep you out of work.
It is not explicitly required by law that an injured employee must undergo a medical exam in order to be eligible for workers’ compensation. to qualify for workers’ compensation, employees must have been injured in accidents that fall within the scope of their employment and have missed at least five days of work. Even though a medical exam is not technically required, you are unlikely to receive any compensation without one.
If you were injured in a work-related accident, you might qualify for workers’ compensation. to find out if you are eligible, speak to our Massachusetts workers’ compensation attorneys right away. Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 to set up a free and confidential legal consultation about your case.
Getting Medical Treatment Before Getting Workers’ Compensation in Massachusetts
Medical treatment is not explicitly required to qualify for workers’ compensation. As long as the injury happened in the scope of your employment and you are an eligible employee, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation. However, your medical records are vital to getting any compensation award, so if you have no records of treatment from your accident, you will likely not get any compensation.
Workers’ compensation covers more than just medical costs; it also covers lost wages from time away from work. to be eligible to receive a portion of your lost wages in compensation, you must miss at least five days of work. Medical records and treatment may not be completely necessary to show that you missed work due to an injury. However, not receiving medical treatment may make it harder for you to prove your case.
You may be eligible for workers’ compensation without receiving any medical treatment, but medical treatment is necessary to prove your injuries. with no proof of your injuries, you are not likely to receive any compensation from your employer’s insurer. For help with your case, call our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers today.
When Medical Treatment is Required for Workers’ Compensation
Even though you may already qualify for workers’ compensation, your employer or their insurer can require you to be checked out by a doctor of their choosing if they are to approve your case. However, this is a one-time visit with that particular doctor. You have the right to see a doctor of your own choice for your actual treatment. Even when workers’ compensation is paying for your medical treatment, nobody but you can choose your doctor.
Medical treatment may also be required depending on what kind of workers’ compensation you are looking to receive. For example, if you suffered a permanent injury or disfigurement, a doctor’s evaluation is necessary to gauge the level of impairment that determines how much compensation you could receive. Also, if you do not go to a doctor or do not report your doctor visits, you cannot collect any compensation for medical costs.
Although it is not explicitly required to qualify for workers’ compensation, you will likely have to undergo medical treatment if you want to receive compensation for your injuries. Medical treatment is not necessarily a qualifying criterion, but it is essential to build evidence supporting your claims. For help with your case, call our Wakefield workers’ compensation lawyers.
Seeking Immediate Medical Treatment After a Work-Related Accident in Massachusetts
If you have been injured in a work-related accident, you should seek medical treatment immediately. it is incredibly dangerous to avoid going to a doctor after an accident. You could have serious injuries that require immediate attention from trained medical professionals. Sometimes, injuries seem minor at first, but as time goes on, they become worse. Things like concussions or internal bleeding are not always apparent at first and require immediate medical attention.
You also need records of your injuries to report to your employer and their insurer if you want to get compensation. Even though medical treatment is not an explicit element of eligibility, it is nearly impossible to obtain workers’ compensation without going to a doctor. Your doctor’s records will provide proof of your injuries and can be used to calculate compensation.
Medical treatment is also necessary because your injury could get worse. When an injury does not heal correctly, you could be left in a worse condition than before you were injured. This can make it difficult to assess your workers’ compensation claim because it may be hard to tell if your condition was caused by your accident or by your delay in seeking medical attention.
Even if you go to the doctor right after being injured, you should continue seeing your doctor regularly. The more you see your doctor for treatment, the more medical records you have to back up your workers’ compensation claims. it is also good to continue any ongoing treatment so you can recover from your injuries. Speak with our Somerville workers’ compensation attorneys about your accident and injuries today.
Call Our Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you are someone you know has been injured in a work-related accident, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 today. Our Massachusetts workers’ compensation lawyers offer free case consultations.