4 Reasons You Should See A Doctor After A Work-Related Injury
Getting injured at work can be a stressful and traumatizing experience. However, it is critical to take all the necessary steps to obtain workers’ compensation. One of the steps is seeing a doctor right away.
When you suffer a work-related injury or illness, you should promptly notify your employer. Once you report your injury, you should see a doctor and focus on your medical treatment. However, many workers do not understand why they should visit a doctor after a workplace accident.
Below, we will discuss why you should see a doctor as soon as possible after suffering an on-the-job injury. If you were injured at work, contact our Harrisburg workers’ compensation attorneys at Ira H. Weinstock, P.C., to pursue the compensation to which you are entitled.
Why You Should See a Doctor After a Workplace Accident
We have outlined four reasons you should see a doctor after suffering a work-related injury or illness.
- Protect Your Health
One of the most obvious – yet critical – reasons to see a doctor right after your workplace accident is to protect your health. It is common for work-related injuries to have delayed symptoms, which is why you should go to a hospital for a medical checkup to diagnose your injury and assess the extent of your disability.
Seeking medical attention after a workplace accident will help you understand what type of injury you suffered and what treatment is necessary to recover. This information is also vital for your workers’ compensation claim.
- Protect Your Legal Rights
Aside from protecting your health, you can also protect your legal rights by scheduling a doctor’s appointment right after your on-the-job accident. Under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation law, your employer’s insurance company will cover all your reasonable medical expenses and pay a percentage of your lost wages due to your work-related injury.
If you fail to seek medical attention right away, you risk getting your workers’ compensation claim denied. Your employer’s insurance company may dispute the origin of your injury if you do not see a doctor right away.
That is why you should not delay going to a doctor if you suffered a work-related injury or illness.
- Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits
When you see a doctor after a workplace accident, your doctor will help you understand whether or not you are able to work. An attorney will evaluate the medical evidence to help determine whether you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In Pennsylvania, workers’ comp benefits are paid to employees who suffer a partial or total disability as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease.
Your doctor will assess the extent of your disability which will need to be evaluated by an attorney to determine whether or not you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
- Workers’ Compensation Will Pay for Your Medical Expenses
Some workers are reluctant to see a doctor after a workplace accident because they fear that they will have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket. However, if your injury or illness is related to your job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer will pay for all your reasonable medical expenses, including the cost of the treatment and doctor visits.
Speak with a Harrisburg Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Do not hesitate to contact our workers’ compensation lawyers at Ira H. Weinstock, P.C., in Harrisburg if you have been injured at work or developed an occupational disease. Our attorneys will help you protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Call 717-238-1657 to schedule a case review.
