Don't underestimate the independent medical examination

No one should be at risk of serious injury when they go to work. But the sad reality is that thousands upon thousands of people are hurt all across America each year as the result of workplace accidents. While you would think that most employers and their insurance companies would want to do everything they can to take care of these injured workers, the truth is that oftentimes the opposite is true. In many cases, employers and their insurance companies seek to avoid having to pay out workers' compensation benefits, which can really leave a worker in a financial bind.

The independent medical examination

One way that employers try to escape having to pay workers' compensation benefits is by requesting that the injured worker undergo an independent medical examination. Even if you're an injured worker had have been evaluated by your doctor, your employer has the ability to force you to be examined by a doctor of its choosing. Oftentimes the employer's hope is that the independent medical examiner will come to a different conclusion about the cause and/or severity of your injury, which could allow them to successfully challenge your workers' compensation claim.

The independent medical examiner is required to generate a report that is then given to the employer. Your employer must then provide that report to you within 10 business days of receipt. This is critical given that you need to know what your employer is going to argue and how to develop counter arguments.

Building your workers' compensation claim from the ground up

Workers' compensation claims might seem pretty straightforward, but they can actually be fraught with legal nuances and challenges. You need to know how to build your case and protect your rights in these matters if you hope to recover the workers' compensation you need to treat and recover from your injuries while retaining financial stability. Fortunately, you can find help from an attorney who is experienced in this area of the law and who knows how to fight for injured workers.