Workers Compensation

IF YOU ARE INJURED

If you are injured at work, or your job has aggravated an existing medical problem, take the following 3 steps at once!

Notify your supervisor and your union representative of any injury, and file an accident report claiming injury on duty.

Request any needed medical treatment.

Contact your attorney to file a Form 3 with the Workers’ Compensation Court.

NOTIFICATION

If you fail to notify your employer of a work related injury, you may lose your claim!  In Oklahoma, all injured employees must provide actual notice to their employer within three (3) days of the accident.

Actual notice consists of an acknowledgement by the employer that you are hurt on the job.  In other words, an injured worker must give oral or written notice of the injury in order to get treatment.  Written notice is preferable.

Previously, an injured worker could meet the requirement by receiving “medical attention” from a “licensed physician” within 30 days.  However, this is no longer the case and you must inform your employer of the injury and the employer will provide you with medical treatment.

It is important that you keep a copy of written notice of injuries given to your employer for your records.  In addition, it is now more important than ever to keep copies of all forms that you sign.

 

TREATMENT

The employment must promptly provide an injured employee such medical, surgical or other treatment as is necessary after an injury.  The company may now choose the doctor who must provide you a report of your injuries within seven (7) days after he sees you.  At the conclusion of his treatment, this doctor shall provide a final report to you as well.

If you are capable of returning to work on “light duty”, the doctor is to let the company and you know immediately.  It is important that you abide by this advice and return to work.

The employer’s physician has the right to examine you and, until you petition the Workers’ Compensation Court, has the sole right to treat you.  If your employer fails to provide you with any treatment within three (3) days of receiving actual knowledge of the injury, you can choose your own physician.

Although the employer has the right to select your doctor, by hiring an attorney you may be able to change to your own doctor.  Although the free choice of doctor that used to exist under the law is gone, by hiring a lawyer, in many instances you can still maintain control over your choice of doctor.

 

Under the Workers’ Compensation law, the employer has the right to have a nurse case manager involved in your case.  The extent to which he or she can participate in your case is not clear.  However, you should always remember that this nurse manager works for the employer, not you, and despite her honey tongue, does not have your best interests at heart.  You should not let the nurse manager talk to your doctor, even if it is the company, nor be in the examination room when you meet with your doctor.

CALL US TODAY AT 888-655-2923 OR FILL OUT THE FORM  ON THE LEFT TO BE CONTACTED AND HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AT NO CHARGE.  DON’T DELAY. ACT TODAY.