In the aftermath of a workplace accident, employees ought to get a medical examination to determine the acuteness of their injuries. Aside from helping to determine a suitable treatment plan, a medical exam also plays a crucial role in the workers’ compensation process.
By demonstrating the long-term effects of the injury, an extensive medical evaluation can help provide essential evidence to support a workers’ compensation claim. Therefore, employees shouldn’t overlook medical treatment after they’ve been injured in a workplace incident.
The role of medical examinations
Naturally, a medical examination is one of the initial steps in the workers’ compensation process. A company’s insurance provider needs to know the nature and extent of an employee’s injuries to determine how much compensation they should get. Once a healthcare provider diagnoses the injuries, they will establish a treatment plan that the employee should follow. Workers should know that continuing to receive benefits hinges on them staying committed to their treatment plan. Failure to obey doctor’s orders may lead to a reduction, or even halt, workers’ compensation benefits.
A pivotal piece of evidence
Designated healthcare providers within the workers’ compensation system have been trained to accurately estimate how a work-related injury can impact an affected employee’s ability to fulfill their role within a company. This makes the medical report following a workplace injury a pivotal piece of evidence in the workers’ compensation claim. A healthcare provider’s assessment usually includes:
- The acuteness of the injury
- The proposed treatment plan
- An estimated timeline for recovery
A trusted legal team can utilize all these details to help ensure the injured employee secures sufficient compensation from the company’s insurance provider.
The impact on workers’ compensation claims
Failure to seek medical attention after a workplace accident could discredit an employee’s workers’ compensation claim, no matter how severe their injuries are. To establish a claim, injured employees need to undergo a medical examination. This way, they can secure a medical report as objective evidence of their injuries and their relation to the workplace. A detailed review of their injury substantiates their claim and increases their odds of receiving compensation.
Medical examinations are a cornerstone of the workers’ compensation process, providing essential documentation and analysis of work-related injuries. They help to ensure that injured workers receive appropriate medical care, fair compensation and support during their recovery.
