Medical Benefits When Workers’ Comp Injuries in Richmond Leads to Disability

In order to receive what you’re entitled to, it’s essential to understand your rights to medical benefits after your Workers’ Comp injuries in Richmond. A workers comp attorney can help you obtain your benefits after your accident, which becomes especially important if you have to battle insurance companies.

When people have been injured while performing required job duties, such as when they’re involved in Virginia car accidents while making deliveries, they’re entitled to several key benefits, including an array of medical benefits.

Understanding Basic Medical Benefits

As long as your medical bills were related to your original work injuries, you’re entitled to lifetime medical benefits, which include the following: 

• medical treatments from your work injury;
• emergency room services;
• hospital care;
• physical therapy; and
• prescription medications.

These medical benefits are extremely valuable and important, especially when you’ve suffered a traumatic physical injury while working.

Medical Benefits Stipulations

There are some stipulations to receiving these benefits, though. First, a physician must deem your treatment as necessary and reasonable.

Second, you may not be able to choose your own physician. In Virginia, the employer can provide you with a panel of 3 physicians to choose from.  Unfortunately, some employers or insurance companies may act unscrupulously and only supply you with physicians that they know are more apt to side with the employer/insurance company.

Only when your employer doesn’t provide you a panel of physicians within a reasonable amount of time you will be permitted to seek your own treating physician. What’s considered a “reasonable” amount of time is unspecified though, so things can get tricky when dealing with this grey area.

If you run into problems with your claim or feel like it’s being unfairly handled, you shouldn’t hesitate in speak to a Richmond disability attorney to discuss your case and seek the full amount of benefits and compensation you’re entitled to.

It’s not always easy to start collecting your medical benefits for your Workers’ Comp injuries, and some insurance companies may wrongly deny your claim in Virginia. For car accidents or any other type of work-related accident, you can talk to a Richmond disability attorney about your rights and have a better chance for fair compensation.

When Medical Benefits Are Denied

Unfortunately, employers and insurance companies sometimes deny valid claims, using the excuse that the medical treatment you’re seeking coverage for wasn’t related to your work injury.

This is common with back injuries. When an employee has dealt with back pain prior to the work accident, companies may try to say that your back injuries are due to a pre-existing condition and not the work accident.

If and when a company attempts to use this excuse, you should be aware that by law, your medical treatment can still be covered even with a prior injury. If your accident aggravates your back condition, for example, then you are still eligible for Workers’ Comp medical benefits.

Know Your Rights

In order to ensure your rights to medical benefits, make sure your attending physician carefully documents the causes of your injuries. All medical treatments pertaining to your Workers’ Comp injuries are covered.

Your Workers’ Comp benefits include: 

• lost wages;
• medical benefits;
• loss of use of a body part;
• vocational rehabilitation;
• death benefits; and
• lifetime benefits for serious cases.

After a work-related accident, such as Virginia car accidents or traumatic falls, you may need to seek legal representation to ensure your rights are protected and to get the compensation you and your family needs.

Consider consulting a Richmond disability attorney to assist your claim and help you get the benefits you’re entitled to so you can begin to put your life back on track. 

Contact an Attorney about Your Work-Related Injury Claim

When you have difficulties with your work-related injury claim, a Virginia Workers’ Comp attorney can bear some of the burdens you’ve been placed under. To get back on your feet, whether it means getting back to work or getting the benefits you deserve, order a copy of our free book, the Ultimate Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Virginia, and contact a Workers’ Comp attorney at the Injured Workers Law Firm for a no-cost consultation – 1-877-755-7744 or 1-804-755-7755.