Workers Comp Lawyers

If you have been injured on the job one of the first things you need to know is whether or not your medical bills will be covered by Workers’ Compensation. You need to know what type of treatment and supplies are covered and what you must do to make sure that the eligible treatment you seek and receive is paid for. All of your medical needs and expenses associated with your work-related injury should be covered by Workers’ Compensation benefits, but there are some rules and limitations. Unfortunately, many employers and their insurance companies work hard to exploit these rules, and some will even break the law, to minimize what they must pay.

Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefits

Understand that every case is unique and you may have a fight on your hands when it comes to coverage for your medical care. Generally, Workers’ Compensation medical benefits include treatments and expenses that:

• Cure or correct the injury
• Improve disability caused by the injury
• Relieve pain caused by the injury

Workers’ Compensation medical benefits should pay for your doctor visits, medical procedures such as surgery, and any medications you must take. It may also cover your health and disability-related needs including special equipment.

In some cases, travel expenses for medical care may be covered based on a per-mile rate. You may also be reimbursed for lodging and meals.

Control of Your Medical Treatment

Control defaults to your employer or its insurance company. They decide which doctors and other medical providers you must use. They may also assign a rehabilitation nurse to manage your case.

Typically, employers and their insurance companies will choose the providers that are most likely to work in their favor. You may wind up with a doctor who says you are ready to return to work before you are able, and that can mean having your benefits cut short.

You can see the doctor of your choice, but if you make the change on your own your bills may not be covered. In North Carolina, if you can show good grounds for changing doctors, the Industrial Commission may grant you permission to do so. You must have written approval from the Industrial Commission, your employer, or your employer’s insurer, to guarantee that your bills will be covered.

Time Limitations on Medical Benefits

There is no set time limit for how long you can receive medical treatment under Workers’ Compensation. This benefit lasts as long as medical treatment, for your work-related injury, is required.

However, if you go two years without a payment, your benefits will expire. If you think your condition is going to cause you to need medical treatment in the future, you must file a form with the Industrial Commission before the end of that two year period, and get their approval, to keep your benefits available for your future medical needs.

Originally published here.

If you live in North Carolina and have been injured in a work-related accident, please visit the website of White & Stradley, LLP to learn more about North Carolina Workers’ Compensation benefits

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www.malmanlaw.com The Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC understands how devastating it can be when someone who is gainfully employed is injured on the job and no longer has a source of income. The first thing our workers’ compensation attorneys will do is make sure that you get your benefits right away. In the state of Illinois, employees injured on the job get two-thirds of their regular pay, tax-free, while they are away from work and recovering. All medical bills are paid for in full, and depending on your disability, you will receive a lump sum settlement. To see what benefits you are entitled to under Illinois law, visit our workers’ compensation benefits page. Even though you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, you can best avoid delays and insufficient compensation and coverage by retaining the services of a law firm that knows how to successfully file a workers’ compensation claim. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are aggressive about making sure that your weekly benefits are paid, you are getting the care that you need, and your settlement covers your disabilities. We also have a physician on our staff with a law degree. He will look at your injuries to make sure that you are not getting shortchanged on the amount of compensation that you should be receiving. If necessary, we will consult with other medical specialists and experts who can also help us quantify your injury and recovery amount. A Workers’ Compensation Claim is NOT A Personal …

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