If you are injured on the job, after you receive medical treatment, you’re likely to have many questions about the next steps. It can be helpful to choose a doctor with experience in treating workplace accidents in Atlanta, GA , as he or she will be accustomed to dealing with the process as well as experienced with the types of injuries that usually happen at work. If you’re dealing with a workplace injury, here are the answers to some of the questions you may have on your mind.
Do I have to seek medical care?
Often, people with workplace injuries do not seek care right away because they believe that they are not seriously hurt. However, when their symptoms become worse later, they can then have difficulty proving that the injury happened on the job because of the time that has elapsed. For this reason, you should always get medical treatment immediately after an injury occurs, so that there is a record created that can be helpful in the future if you need to make a compensation claim.
What is an ABIME-certified doctor?
ABIME stands for the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. ABIME-certified doctors have undergone specialized training that allows them to objectively perform a number of medical assessments. ABIME doctors who examine patients after a workplace injury are considered qualified to make accurate diagnoses and make appropriate decisions about prognosis, care plans, work capacity, and causation. In addition to being recognized for their expertise by insurance companies, ABIME-certified physicians are able to testify in court as expert medical witnesses. Choosing an ABIME-certified doctor for an independent medical exam can help your workers’ compensation claim go more smoothly.
What should I do if my employer won’t pay my claim?
If your employer fights your workers’ compensation claim, it may be necessary to contact an attorney. If this occurs, it will become all the more important to have detailed medical records that chronicle your injury from the time it occurs throughout your treatment plan.