Common Workers’ Compensation Disputes In Rhode Island
Trying to deal with an insurance company on your own can be frustrating, time-consuming and costly. It is a mistake many people regret for years to come. At the Law Offices of Lawrence J. Signore, we have extensive experience in fighting back against insurance companies that refuse to provide the workers’ compensation our clients need.
To arrange a free consultation, please call us in Providence at 401-273-3000 or complete our contact form. We represent clients throughout Rhode Island.
We handle cases involving all of the following:
- Denied claims: Employers and insurance companies attempt to deny claims on several grounds, including assertions that the claimant is a contractor rather than an employee and therefore not eligible, the injury was not work-related, or the injury was deliberate or the result of horseplay.
- Worker did not give employer notice: You must notify your employer of the injury immediately upon realizing that an injury or illness is work-related. A delay that prevents your employer from investigating your injury can cost you your benefits.
- Course of treatment and choice of doctor: Although Rhode Island law permits an injured worker to choose a treating physician, workers sometimes disagree with a doctor’s assessment and want a second opinion. Conflicts can arise when an insurance company objects that a physician’s treatment plan is not reasonable or necessary. In addition, if you choose to change doctors, you will need to choose from an approved list of providers or get written permission from the insurer.
- Medical review: Workers who receive weekly incapacity benefits for 26 weeks must attend an examination to review their treatment plan and progress. An impartial medical examiner or healthcare review team then issues a report, which may impact your course of treatment and benefits.
- When to return to work: Controversy may arise when a treating physician clears a worker to return to the job before the worker feels he or she is ready, or when an employer refuses to allow light duty during the worker’s recovery.
- Disability ratings and settlements: Workers who suffer permanent disabilities need to be appropriately rated to receive a fair allocation of benefits. Often, disability ratings are too low for the worker’s loss of function. Workers also need assistance when insurance companies offer settlements for permanent disability awards since those offers rarely reflect fair value for the disability.
Don’t put your well-being and future in the hands of an insurance company without having a dedicated workers’ compensation lawyer on your side.
If you have questions about workers’ compensation in Rhode Island, please see our workers’ comp FAQ.
Contact The Rhode Lawyer Today
We understand that a serious injury can greatly limit your ability to visit an attorney’s office. That is why The Rhode Lawyer will come to you! We regularly meet with clients in their homes, hospital rooms and other locations. For a free consultation, please call 401-273-3000 or complete our contact form. We represent injured workers and their families throughout Rhode Island. Nosotros hablamos español.