Injured workers will often think that their injury will get better without seeing a doctor.
This is dangerous thinking for several reasons.
First, the longer you wait may result in an injury that becomes worse.
Second, Work Comp insurance companies will many times use delay in seeking medical treatment as a reason to deny your work injury claim.
How can they do this?
Their argument will be that delay means it is not work related.
The related argument is that your injury is not very serious if you did not see a doctor immediately.
Can they get away with this?
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Arbitrators focus on the medical records in making their rulings.
If there are medical records with gaps in medical treatments or long delays between date of injury and time of treatment, then the Arbitrator may deny your case or give it a reduced value.
You do not want to jeopardize your case.
Put your best case forward: go the the doctor right away after your injury and explain to the doctor how you were injured at work.
Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Injury Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.