What Should You Say to a Workers’ Compensation Doctor?

Before you can receive your Workers’ Compensation benefits, your employer’s insurance will likely require you to get examined by a doctor of their choosing. Because access to benefits is on the line, injured workers need to know what to say and what not to say to a Workers’ Compensation doctor.

During an examination with a Workers’ Compensation doctor, you must know the right things to say. For example, injured workers should explain how they sustained their injuries and communicate their pain levels. They should express any difficulties they are experiencing and, above all else, be honest. It’s important to note that victims should never accept fault during these examinations, as any misstep could give an insurance company a reason to deny your claim.

Our lawyers are dedicated to helping injured workers get the benefits they deserve. For a free case evaluation with the Boston workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.

Tips on What to Say to Your Workers’ Compensation Doctor

After you sustain a work-related injury, your employer’s insurance company will generally require you to see a doctor of their choosing to treat your injuries through Workers’ Compensation. Because this medical professional is chosen to conduct an examination on behalf of an insurance company, it’s important to tread carefully and speak with an attorney about what to say to a Workers’ Compensation doctor during visits.

Explain What Happened

When you first meet with the Workers’ Compensation doctor chosen by your employer’s insurance, it is important to explain how you sustained your injuries. Be precise and as informative as possible. Tell the doctor exactly what happened. If you misspeak or leave information out, that may be noted in the doctor’s records. Your employer’s insurance could then use that information against you to avoid paying you the benefits you deserve.

To be sure you properly explain what happened, consult with a Reading, MA workers’ compensation lawyer. Our attorneys can help injured workers plan a thorough explanation of an accident’s events to effectively communicate with a Workers’ Compensation doctor.

Communicate Pain Levels

Don’t hold back when getting examined by a Workers’ Compensation doctor. An employer’s insurance company may require that you get certain tests run by a medical professional of their choosing, which can be intimidating. However, injured workers must communicate their pain levels and the extent of their injuries. Downplaying your injuries will only do a disservice you and your potential access to Workers’ Compensation insurance benefits.

So, while you might be hesitant to admit to your pain levels or discomfort, it is necessary to do so. Even minor aches and pains that seem separate from your work-related injury could be tied back to the same accident and justify treatment. Remember, leaving out information or downplaying your pain will only negatively affect you, potentially sending you back to work earlier or leading to a medical opinion that you do not need treatment. Be sure to communicate how your injuries are affecting you physically when speaking with a Workers’ Compensation doctor.

Express Difficulties

A major factor in receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits is whether or not you can adequately do your job. If your injuries interfere with your ability to complete work, express that to your Workers’ Compensation doctor. Inform them of how your work-related injuries impede your ability to support your family financially or safely do your job. This pertains to physical difficulties as well as mental ones. Certain injuries can have a profound effect on injured workers’ emotional well-being and physical health. Such difficulties can impede your ability to earn wages or complete the same type of work you were able to previously.

Be Honest

At the end of the day, the best thing to do when speaking with a Workers’ Compensation doctor is to be honest. If an employer’s negligence caused your injuries, you are entitled to fair Workers’ Compensation benefits. Honesty, and a Cambridge workers’ compensation attorney, can help you recover the benefits you deserve after sustaining a work-related injury. It is crucial to be honest with a Workers’ Compensation doctor during each examination if they are multiple. Be sure to maintain that same level of honesty with your primary care physician and any other specialists you may see while receiving treatment for your work-related injuries.

What Shouldn’t You Say to a Workers’ Compensation Doctor?

While you now know what you should say to a Workers’ Compensation doctor, it’s also important to learn what not to say. Misspeaking during a consultation with a Workers’ Compensation doctor can cause serious issues and impede your access to the Workers’ Compensation benefits you deserve.

It’s necessary to remember that your employer’s insurance hires the Workers’ Compensation doctor that examines you. Because of that, it’s important to be careful how you speak. The first thing you should not do, under any circumstances, is accept fault for your injuries. Remember, anything you say during an examination with a Workers’ Compensation doctor can be included in your medical records. While fault is usually not an element of a Workers’ Compensation claim, admitting fault could still hurt your claim. If your doctor misinterprets something you say as admitting that you injured yourself on purpose, you could even be accused of fraud.

If, during a conversation, a doctor asks leading questions or tries to get you to admit fault, don’t. Before one of these examinations, it’s best to speak with a Malden workers’ compensation lawyer. Our lawyers can help you prepare for such questions and explain why being honest and not accepting fault are important.

Don’t say anything overtly negative about your employer either. Although you may be understandably frustrated by your employer’s negligence, it’s important to stay calm during an examination with a Workers’ Compensation doctor. Remember, an employer’s insurance company is looking for any reason to deny you access to Workers’ Compensation benefits. Because of that, speaking negatively about your employer during an examination with a Workers’ Compensation doctor isn’t wise.

Call Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today

Knowing how to approach an examination with a Workers’ Compensation doctor is crucial so that you don’t limit your chances of receiving benefits. For a free case evaluation with the Somerville workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.