If you suffer a work injury, prompt medical attention is important for two main reasons. First, you need to receive appropriate medical care to prevent further injury or complications. Second, having a healthcare provider diagnose and treat your injury will create a formal medical record.
Medical documentation is one of the basic requirements for a workers’ compensation claim. Here are several reasons why it is not something you should skip.
Medical records provide proof of your injury
When you see a doctor for your injury, they will assess, diagnose and recommend treatment for it. These steps will create medical records you can use to establish your claim, such as:
- Initial assessments
- Diagnostic tests, e.g., X-rays, CT scans
- Doctor’s recommendations
- Medication records
At the very least, you will have solid proof of your injury and its extent. However, you will also need to show that it is related to your work activities. Luckily, medical records can also help you do that.
Your doctor can help establish causation
Naturally, your injury must be directly linked to your job to qualify for workers’ compensation insurance. You can establish this relationship through incident reports, witness accounts and work environment evidence. However, medical records tend to be more objective.
For instance, medical records often start with a detailed account of how and when the injury occurred. This can include your description of the incident, which helps connect the injury to specific work-related tasks or conditions.
Plus, diagnostic procedures can reveal the nature and extent of your injury. This objective medical evidence can support your claim that the injury is consistent with the reported workplace incident. For example, suppose you report back pain after lifting a heavy box at work. An MRI reveals a herniated disc, which helps corroborate your claim that the injury is related to the work incident.
Medical reports will include your treatment plan
Your medical records will likely include recommendations for treatment, be it medication, surgery, rest, rehabilitation and so on. This information will help determine the type and extent of benefits you are eligible to receive, such as medical coverage and compensation for lost wages.
Any worker injured on the job deserves compensation and support as they recover. Unfortunately, not all workers’ comp claims go smoothly. If you are experiencing resistance from your employer or insurance company, consider working with an attorney who can help fight for your legal rights.