Your New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Questions Answered: “What Happens if My Doctor and My Employer’s Doctor Disagree About My Workplace Injury?”
After suffering a workplace injury in New Orleans, many injured New Orleans workers quickly discover that disagreements may arise regarding the seriousness of the injury, necessary medical treatment, work restrictions, or their ability to return to work. In some New Orleans workers’ compensation cases, an injured worker’s treating physician may recommend ongoing treatment or continued work restrictions while their employer’s doctor reaches a different conclusion. These disagreements may create stress and confusion for injured New Orleans workers who are already dealing with pain, medical appointments, lost wages, and uncertainty about their future.
To help injured workers in New Orleans better understand their rights when disputes arise during workers’ compensation claims, here we explain what happens when doctors disagree about a workplace injury and how a New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help fight for you.
What Happens if the Doctors Disagree in a New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Case?
In many New Orleans workers’ compensation cases, the injured worker’s doctor and the employer’s doctor disagree about important medical issues connected to the workplace injury. For example, one doctor may believe the injured New Orleans worker needs surgery, physical therapy, additional treatment, or more time away from work, while another doctor may claim the worker is fully recovered or able to return to work sooner.
According to Louisiana Works, “If your physician and your employer’s physician do not agree about your medical condition, you may be entitled to an Independent Medical Examination.” But what exactly is an Independent Medical Examination, and how does it fit into an injured New Orleans worker’s workers’ compensation case?
What Is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)?
An Independent Medical Examination, commonly called an “IME,” is an evaluation performed by a separate physician who reviews the worker’s medical condition and provides an opinion regarding the injury. The IME doctor may examine the worker, review medical records, evaluate treatment recommendations, and issue findings regarding the worker’s condition, limitations, and ability to work.
In many New Orleans workers’ compensation cases, IMEs become important when workers’ compensation insurance companies dispute injuries or question whether ongoing treatment is necessary.
Because IME findings may affect workers’ compensation benefits, many injured workers in New Orleans feel nervous or uncertain before attending the examination.
How a New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help
An experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help injured New Orleans workers build strong workers’ compensation claims and fight for the medical treatment and compensation they are owed under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws.
An experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help gather medical records, prepare evidence, challenge unfair insurance company decisions, respond to disputed IME findings, and fight for wage replacement and medical benefits connected to the worker’s workplace injury.
Workers’ compensation claims often become complicated when insurance companies attempt to minimize injuries or deny treatment. Having experienced legal representation from a New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help injured workers protect their rights throughout the claims process.
Finding Legal Help in New Orleans
The experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC fight for injured workers in New Orleans. If you were injured at work in New Orleans and you need legal help pursuing workers’ compensation benefits due to you, contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_WorkComp_ClaimantMedicalServices.asp
