Call Toll Free 1-888-792-3595

Tips on Dealing with Your Doctor and Your Injuries During Your Work Injury Claim (Part A)

When you suffer a work injury, you will likely be treating with a doctor your employer chooses and not your regular health care provider. Your injury may be a new experience and you may have significant pain. These are some tips you should remember when dealing with a work injury claim in Iowa. Read on to find things to bear in mind, which will aid you in achieving the desired outcome of your claim and maximizing the compensation.

Dealing with the Doctor Provided by Your Employer

First of all, Iowa’s law allows the employer and their insurance company to choose the doctors that will be treating you in your workers’ compensation claim. When dealing with these doctors you should remember that you have to maintain a good relationship and tell everything as it is. Although it may be uncomfortable to deal with a new doctor, it is important to give them all the information and treat them like you would your regular provider. In some cases the doctors might say you are over exaggerating your injury. If this happens, remember to keep your head cool, since everything you say and how you act will be recorded in notes that will then be given to the insurance company and used in the case. Don’t be afraid to ask the doctor questions, but do not expect everything to get answered. A common practice among insurance company doctors is them claiming that they have done everything in their power and can’t help you anymore. In this case, you should seek out other doctors who will find ways to help you.

Tell the Doctor Everything that Hurts

Remember to tell your doctor everything that hurts and when it is hurting. Do not wait to see if it gets better before you tell the doctor. In a workers’ injury claim, one of the most important aspects is your ability to function and work after suffering the injury. Your doctor has an obligation to keep a record of all your injuries and medical care progress. These records will include details about how you were injured, your complaints and examination findings, as well as received treatment. By not telling your doctor everything that hurts nobody will know about your injury and you will not get any treatment. However, by telling them about the health problems weeks or months later, the insurance company lawyers will claim that the health problems have arisen from something else than the work injury. Do not compromise your case by not reporting all the injuries right after they occur.

There are many other issues, tips and warnings you should heed when dealing with Iowa work injury claims. You should read more related reports on our site, request a copy of our Iowa Workers Compensation book without charge, risk or obligation or contact me directly. The attorneys at Walker, Billingsley and Bair are dedicated to helping you with your Worker's Compensation case. We practice primarily in workers' compensation and represent injured workers from Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Ft. Dodge, Mason City, Newton, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, Burlington, Decorah, Davenport, Dubuque and from across the state of Iowa.

Continue to Part B >>