Thousands of workers are injured on the job every single day, and the vast majority make steady improvements in their recovery as time goes on. However, for a small portion of workers, their injuries persist or actually end up getting worse despite pursuing proactive treatment. What should you do if your injuries end up getting worse during the treatment phase, and how does this impact your workers’ compensation award? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
My Work Injury Is Getting Worse
Injuries can end up worsening during the treatment phase for a number of different reasons. You may have been misdiagnosed and are pursuing the wrong course of treatment, you may have pushed yourself too hard during a physical therapy session, or you may suffer an injury as a direct result of your current limitations. For example, if you suffer a foot injury at work and then trip at home because you’re forced to get around on crutches, you can suffer new or worsening injuries tied directly to your original injury.
If your symptoms have worsened despite your best efforts, here’s what you’ll want to do in order to avoid causing problems for your workers’ compensation claim.
1. Seek Out Additional Medical Care – You’re going to need to have these new or worsening symptoms documented by a medical professional, so seek out an appointment with your treating physician or similar healthcare professional. Without proof or documentation that your condition has gotten worse, it will seem that your recovery has remained on track.
2. Tell Your Lawyer – Be sure to let your lawyer know of your worsening condition, especially if there are new ways that it’s affecting your daily life. They may be able to help you seek out additional forms of compensation due to your changing circumstances.
3. Continue To Heed Medical Advice – Make sure that you are still following the recommended treatment protocol from your care provider. If they still want you to attend physical therapy but you decide to skip sessions because of worsening symptoms, the insurance company may seek to stop making payments on your claim because you’re not following recommended medical advice. Don’t alter your treatment plan on your own.
Finally, it’s important to keep your lawyer up to date on any changes in your medical condition. As we mentioned in the second point, they may be able to help you get additional compensation for your injuries, but they can also develop a plan to showcase how your worsening symptoms are tied to your original injury. As we’ve stated on the blog in the past, you are eligible to receive compensation for expenses and lost wages so long as they are connected to your original injury. The insurance company may argue that your new condition or worsening symptoms are not related to your original injury, and your lawyer will want to be prepared to counter these arguments and keep your claim checks coming in. Be sure to keep them updated about any setbacks or issues you’re experiencing during the treatment phase.
So long as your symptoms are tied to your original injury and you keep following medical advice, this new issue should not cause any problems for your workers’ compensation claim, but we can help you sort through the situation and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. For more information about how to navigate the workers’ compensation system if your symptoms get worse, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
