A workplace injury is something that most people want to avoid, but these events can strike anyone. When you have suffered a workplace injury, worker's compensation may be the only way for receiving the treatment that you need to properly heal. Sadly, it is common for workers to be uninformed about this type of coverage, and as a result, they might not know how to proceed following an on-the-job injury. If this applies to you, the following two answers to your questions should give you a better understanding about what you should expect.
Will You Be Able To Select Your Own Doctor?
It is common for individuals to have a doctor that they trust and have experienced visiting. However, if this applies to you, it might be shocking to learn that you will have to be treated by a doctor of your employer's choosing. However, you should be aware that it may be possible to change doctors. This can occur by petitioning and showing that it is difficult for you to go to the doctor due to distance or that the quality of care is inferior. Often, proving this will require you to hire a workers comp attorney because it may require extensive court filings to be awarded the chance to change doctors.
What Is Light Duty?
If your injury was particularly severe, you may require extensive rehabilitation before you can expect to be fully healed. However, you may be healed enough to be able to perform limited duties at work. This is referred to as light duty, and it is designed to help get injured workers back on the job as soon as they are ready. Under light duty working conditions, your employer will consult with the doctor to determine which tasks are suitable for you. While you may not enjoy having restricted work responsibilities, it is to ensure that you do not inadvertently injured yourself. Also, you should be aware that you can not refuse light duty because this will terminate your benefits from this claim.
Filing a worker's compensation claim is not something that you likely want to do, but it may be the only way to get treatment for your injury without having to pay out of your own pocket. By making sure that you understand that your employer will choose the doctor and what light duty is, you will be better positioned to understand what to expect from filing this type of claim.
