No matter how carefully you work at your workplace and how safe and healthy your workplace is, accidents and injuries can still happen. Workplace injuries include everything from broken bones and occupational illnesses to aggravation of preexisting illnesses and psychological problems.
The legal rights when you get injured at work are protected by workers’ compensation, which is designed to pay for injured workers’ treatment, medical bills, and lost wages. It’s important for you to know your legal rights, so you can confidently manage your recovery and work in the future in the situation that you get injured or sick due to your job.
Let’s discuss your legal rights and where you can go to receive workers’ compensation services in Colorado.
#1 You Have the Right to Pursue Medical Care
After a work injury or illness, you have the right to see a doctor for medical care. Even if think your injury isn’t serious and your symptoms don’t present themselves immediately, still go for a complete medical examination to determine the cause and extent of your issue. A thorough medical evaluation will also determine your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits and the extent of the benefits.
#2 You Have the Right to File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The very first thing you should do after getting injured at work informs your supervisor and human resources department. They will guide you on how to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. They will either guide you to a specific medical practice that handles workers’ compensation cases under their coverage, or they will ask you to see a doctor of your choice as soon as possible. If the latter is true for you, make sure to select a doctor who has a lot of experience handling workers’ compensation cases.
The doctor will assess your injury or illness, determine what caused it, and recommend a treatment plan. They will fill out paperwork and submit it to the workers’ compensation case manager for processing. Depending on the nature of your injury and your state’s requirements, workers’ compensation can cover your medical care, loss of income, and temporary disability benefits.
The key to getting the benefits you are owed is immediate reporting of the injury or illness and documentation of all medical diagnoses and treatments.
#3 You Have the Right to Take Time Off Work, If Necessary
After you suffer an injury or illness, your doctor may recommend taking time off to heal. Such is the case if you are a construction worker and suffered a fracture, or if you work in a factory and developed respiratory symptoms. In a lot of situations, taking a few days to weeks off is essential to recovery.
Don’t feel that you are not entitled to the time off. If your doctor recommends it as part of your treatment plan, you are encouraged to follow their instructions. After you complete rest and feel better, you can go back to work without any worry about symptoms. Workers’ compensation is designed to pay for employees’ lost wages due to required time off for recovery.
Work Injuries Treatment Near Me in Colorado
At WorkPartners Occupational Health, our providers offer top-notch services for a wide variety of work-related injuries and illnesses. We understand that work-related injuries can affect both the employer’s business and the employee’s life, so we are focused on providing the best care possible for an injured employees, so they can resume work as soon as possible.
If you would like to know more about our services to support your legal rights when you get injured at work, schedule an appointment with our experts by calling us today at (970) 241-5585 or using our secure online appointment request form.
