Wrists are more prone to accidents regardless of the type of work that you are doing. Sometimes the injuries happen due to acts of omission or commission. Frequently wrist injuries can while performing repetitive activities at work, also called repetitive strain injury, which can also lead to developing carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. If the damage to your wrist occurs because of conditions that hold your employer liable, you may be entitled to compensation.
The Department of Labor has an office for programs concerning workers’ compensation. In the various states, it operates State Worker’s Compensation Programs. A reward is, therefore, a legal requirement. However, it depends on many other factors. Those factors include making the right decision about the right time to see a workers’ compensation doctor.
When To See A Workers’ Comp Doctor For A Wrist Injury
It would be best if you acted quickly in case of an accident for your claims to be reliable. Get to see the right doctor as soon as possible after a work-related injury or an accident. If you are injured is a car accident tor during work-related activities, make sure you visit the doctor. Moreso if you experience the following conditions:
• If your wrist feels abnormally weak
• If you cannot move your wrist like you are used to
• If you experience a stinging feeling
• Pain in the wrist while working …those conditions may be an indication of severe damage to your wrist. The extent of damage could render you incapacitated for some time. Such injury may lead to loss of income as:
• Salary may not come through
• You may spend a lot of money on treatment procedures like surgery or orthopedic procedures
• You may suffer physical or psychological injuries which may result in disability-like conditions
What Kind Of Doctor Should You See?
Even if your wrist does not show signs immediately, visit the doctor. Some injuries may not show immediately, only to show up later. Try as much as possible to see an injury doctor. Visit a reputable emergency clinic immediately after the car accident. Do so even if a specialist is not available.
Ensure you have given the doctor full information about the accident. Discuss with them about your injury case and let them understand that you may need worker’s compensation. They may or may not help you link up with your insurance company. You will most likely have to see a specialist like an orthopedic doctor, neurologist, or physiatrist.
Nevertheless, that should be your primary concern within the first 24-48 hours after an injury.
Who Chooses Your Doctor?
In New York, most of the time, you will have an opportunity to select a doctor of your choice. Make sure that your doctor is an authorized NYS Workers’ Compensation Board provider. Your workers’ compensation insurance provider will instruct you to check in with one of their doctors. You are limited, even though you may prefer your doctor. In the state of New Jersey, your employer will choose a workers’ comp doctor for you to see.
In a few states, you can choose your doctor, before the accidents happen. You must make the selection in writing to your employer. You write to your employer appointing your doctor in the future, especially in California’s workers’ compensation cases.
Unfortunately, you are still limited because you may not predict an accident. Thus may not be having a designated doctor by the time the accident happens. It is quite unfortunate because your doctor tends to understand your body better. The doctor provided by the employer is business-oriented.
Their primary aim is to cater to the interests of the insurance company as much as possible. Regardless, please cooperate with your treating doctor. They would be very instrumental in influencing your compensation.
Why You Should Always Tell Your Workers’ Comp Doctor the Truth
It would be best if you did not represent false facts with the doctor. He or she will conduct a test on you based on the symptoms that you are reporting. If you lie, they may catch you and indicate in their report that you lied. Lying may weaken the case for your claim on workers’ compensation.
Your workers’ comp doctor will establish the nature of the wrist injury. Some of the most severe conditions include broken bones, sprains (stretched or torn ligaments), and tendinitis. The amount of workers’ compensation you receive depends on your level of injury.
Here are other reasons why you may need to cooperate with the doctor provided for you:
• The doctor’s opinion determines the direction of your compensation
• They will provide a medical diagnosis that your insurance company relies on
• They will decide if your treatment escalates to surgery or bone specialists
• The decision of when you are ready to go back to work, or if you need home rest depends on them
• They establish the level of your injury, whether it is a permanent or temporary condition. They also project how long it may take
• They are your main witness since they document every detail about your injury
You may weaken your workers’ comp case if:
• You fail to see injury doctor there is no documented evidence that you got a wrist injury
• If you lied about the extent of your injury
The insurance company may instruct you to remain under the doctor’s care for a certain period. They expect you to keep up with the doctor until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). Should they discover that you are not following up, there is a likelihood they may decide you lied.
Who Pays for Your Worker’s Comp Medical Bills?
Your workers’ compensation will cover your medical bills as long as you see the doctor within the legally accepted time.
Otherwise, the doctor gets their pay after you receive your claim. A center for Medicare & Medicaid Services refers to such settlements as “Medicare lien.” CMS comes to the rescue of clients whose primary insurer has not settled the medical expenses.
It can also cover clients whose claim is in dispute, for immediate settlement. They may recover later after clients receive settlements.
The first reaction in a life-threatening impact is to use your hands for protection. This reaction may leave wrists badly exposed. Sometimes you may feel the impact immediately and sustain injuries. Other times still, you may not experience the impact on the spot.
You tend to think you are okay only for severe injuries to reveal later. You may sustain accidental injuries in the course of work. To claim insurance compensation, you must first see a doctor within 72 hours. It is the doctor’s documentary evidence that will make your claim successful.
Call (888) 590-4030 to find an experienced workers comp doctor near you who can help you get back to living your life!