Did you know it’s estimated that $48,343,292 in workers’ compensation net premiums were written out in 2018?
Plenty of people have been hurt on the job, but that doesn’t mean that they’re getting the help that they need to get better.
A workers’ comp doctor can be a helpful asset for any Queens resident that needs benefits and help because of a workplace injury.
If you want to feel better and get back to work, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you have to know about workers’ comp doctors in Queens.
Queens, NY: The Largest Borough
Queens may not be what comes to mind whenever people think of NYC, but the city’s most heavily populated borough deserves some recognition.
Queens has a long and storied history, it was established in 1683 as one of the original 12 counties of New York. The area was named to honor Catherine of Braganza, and since its creation, millions of people have called it home.
With an estimated 2.3 million residents, Queens has just 400,000 fewer people than all of Chicago. If Queens were to break away from NYC and form its own city, it would be one of the top five largest in the country!
The borough’s mix of high rise buildings and single-family homes make this one of the most diverse areas of the city. The unique culture of the area could easily make this the next hot borough to live in NYC.
Workers’ Comp Injuries in Queens
If you’re filing for workers’ compensation in Queens, you should know that you’re far from the only person that needs help.
It’s estimated that there were 62,663 reopened workers’ comp claims in Queens alone in 2017 and 32,516 assembled claims. That’s nearly 100,000 people that need some form of workers’ comp help in the borough.
With all of the people in need of workers’ compensation, you’d assume that plenty of employers are doing what they can to make sure that their employees are covered. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true.
In 2017 232 businesses in Queens were issued a stop-work order (SWO) because they had inadequate workers’ compensation coverage in place, or because they owed the state funds they haven’t paid into worker’s comp.
Common Workplace Injuries
You don’t have to be working a dangerous or physically demanding job to get injured at work. The truth is that getting hurt on the job is a lot more common than people think.
Pay close attention to the following list to see if you have any of these common workplace injuries.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
This is the kind of injury that can easily happen to someone that works on an assembly line or behind a desk at a computer. The injury is fairly common, but it’s often less obvious than other ones.
Repetitive motions can put a lot of strain on muscles and tendons. After a while, that strain could result in carpal tunnel syndrome, vision problems, back pain, and other kinds of chronic problems.
These kinds of injuries aren’t an inevitable part of doing your job. Employee training and the use of ergonomic office equipment can help keep damage low.
Since this injury isn’t immediately obvious and can take time to form, it could take a while before you or your doctor knows that something is wrong. This is why it’s important to know about the signs of repetitive motion injuries before they start.
Falls, Slips, and Trips
These injuries can happen at almost any job, and unfortunately, they’re usually caused by negligence.
Someone may not have picked up a piece of paper that someone slips on, or a careless left open drawer could be the cause of a catastrophic fall. A janitor may have neglected to put up a wet floor sign, or someone may not have wiped up their spill.
The causes of these accidents may be mundane, but the damage sustained from them can be very serious.
Collisions and Crashes
It’s important to keep in mind that cars aren’t the only machinery that can crash and cause damage. Lorries, small forklifts, and even small carts can do serious damage when they make an impact.
The accident may not be the fault of the driver. It’s possible that an employer may not have properly trained someone to use a vehicle, or they may not have checked the operator’s certifications.
It’s also possible that the vehicles may lack important safety equipment like seatbelts or signal lights. The equipment used may have been old and may not have gone through important maintenance.
Equipment and Machinery Accidents
These kinds of injuries typically happen in factories, loading docks, and other areas where equipment and heavy machinery are used.
Sometimes the accidents can result in something painful, but treatable, like a broken bone or possibly a laceration. In some extreme cases, the injuries could be serious enough to result in the loss of limbs, paralyzation, or even death.
These injuries may be caused by employee negligence. Someone may have ignored proper safety protocol and may have worn loose clothing pr not have tied back long hair before they started to work.
It’s also possible that employer negligence could be the cause of an accident. They may not have properly trained employees or may have been letting employees work on dangerous equipment.
Back Injuries
Back injuries usually happen to people that have to lift heavy boxes and merchandise throughout the day. It isn’t uncommon for people that work in warehouses or in retail to sustain back injuries.
There are a variety of things that could cause a back injury.
Someone may have repetitive muscle strain from constantly bending or may be suffering from overexertion. Others may not have been trained to properly lift heavy objects and could be bending and lifting the wrong way.
Contact with equipment or objects could cause severe back pain and injuries. You may end up stuck up against an object or crushed by machinery. It’s also possible to sustain a back injury from slipping and falling.
What Does a Workers’ Comp Doctor Do?
If you’ve been injured at work you may be wondering what you can do next. It’s always a good idea to talk to your regular doctor, but if you want to get specialized help, you need to consider seeing a workers comp doctor.
A workers’ comp doctor is a physician that specializes in the treatment of patients after a workplace accident. In the state of New York, a doctor needs to be authorized by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (NYS WCB) in order to practice.
Your appointment with a workers’ comp doctor won’t be very different from a visit to your regular doctor.
They’ll give you a thorough examination and ask you detailed questions about your medical history. If you were involved in an accident, they’ll ask you questions about what happened.
From there, they’ll be able to assess any injuries you have, determine the cause of the injuries, and recommend possible treatments that you can undergo now and treatments you may need in the future.
Should I See a Workers’ Compensation Doctor?
If you sustained a workplace injury, it’s very important for you to see a workers’ comp doctor as soon as possible. They play a very important role in the compensation claim process.
The reports they make will serve as your official documentation of injuries you sustained at work and the treatment you’ll need going forward.
That documentation and your treatment plan will be a determining factor in whether you’re entitled to receive benefits and the amount of money you’ll receive.
A workers’ comp doctor does so much more than evaluate you after an accident. The medical report they issue will determine if your injury was caused by the accident and will comment on how your medical history may have affected or caused an injury.
Most importantly of all, the doctor will play a big role in determining how you can work in the future. They may determine that you can work under certain restrictions, or that you may be completely unable to work for until you fully heal.
How Can a Workers’ Comp Physician Help Me?
Some people mistakenly believe that workers’ comp doctors are only there to help companies. The truth is that they’re there to make sure that you get the help you need and that you properly heal after an accident.
Are you curious about how a workers’ comp doctor can help you, and the possible specialties they may have? Here are all of the ways the right workers’ comp doctor can help you after an accident.
Get Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation will play an important role in the healing process after you sustain a workplace injury. You’ll need to gradually work muscles over time so you can gain back your strength and possibly return to work.
A workers’ comp doctor in Queens can help you start off with a great wellness plan that can help you heal.
The doctor may recommend exercises you can do on your own at home that can help you regain strength. In some cases, they may recommend that you get treated at a special facility so you can get additional physical therapy help.
Manage Pain
A pain management doctor can be very helpful after an accident.
When some people think of pain management they specifically think of opiates and pain pills. A Queens pain management doctor may recommend some medications to help manage your discomfort, but there are plenty of other things they can do to help.
They may recommend steroid injections or cortisone shots to help manage your pain. It’s possible that they could come up with an at-home medication plan or recommend epidurals to lessen your discomfort.
Treat Your Back
Back pain is notoriously tricky to treat. Luckily for you, a workers’ comp chiropractor in Queens recommended by your doctor can help you out.
If you thought invasive surgery or powerful drugs are the only way to treat back pain, you’ll be amazed at what a chiropractor can do. The adjustments they perform on your back can do a lot to help treat post-injury pain.
Seeing a chiropractor in Queens can have other benefits. You may notice a restored range of motion and reduced inflammation after a few visits to the chiropractor.
Heal Bones and Muscles
A broken bone and severely injured muscles can take a long time to heal and will require special attention to ensure that it heals well. Seeing an orthopedic surgeon can make sure that you get the help you need to fully heal.
It may be difficult to get your insurance to agree to cover an orthopedic surgeon, but this is where your workers’ comp doctor can help.
A letter from your doctor that states that seeing an orthopedic surgeon is essential for helping you recover and get back to work could make some insurance companies offer coverage.
Protect Your Head and Brain
Damage to your brain and nerves can lead to serious health problems down the road. You may not think you had a major fall or bump, but sometimes a small hit to the head can cause significant damage.
This is why it’s very important for injured people to see experienced workers’ comp neurologists in Queens, NY. They can ensure that no serious damage was done and could prescribe a helpful treatment plan in case you do need extra neurological help.
Get the Help You Need Now
It’s important for you to remember that you have rights as a worker and as a human being. You have the right to have proper treatment after an injury at work, and seeing a workers’ comp doctor can ensure that you’re getting the care that you need.
Do you have questions about how to find the best workers’ comp doctor to help you? Are you curious about how the doctors on our list can treat you?
Regardless of what you need, we’re always here to help you. Be sure to reach out to us so we can find the best way to help you find the care you need.
Call (888)-590-4030 to find an experienced Queens workers’ comp doctor near you.