The Role of Medical Evidence in Workers’ Compensation Cases

When a worker suffers injury in the workplace, they can qualify for workers’ compensation—but they have to meet certain requirements. To carry out a workers’ compensation claim, the injured worker must provide sufficient medical evidence validating their injuries. Without medical evidence, the claimant might find it extremely challenging to get compensated for their injuries. 

If you need assistance finding a lawyer to help with your workers’ comp case, go to 1800injured.com. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. Here is what you need to know about the role of medical evidence in a worker’s compensation claim. 

Documentation That Is Considered Medical Evidence In Workers’ Compensation Cases

All injured employees must submit medical evidence of their injuries to the insurance company. Medical evidence documentation should be prepared or written by a qualified medical provider. This type of evidence includes lab test results, bills, and receipts related to the medical treatment obtained for the injuries. 

In some cases, expert witness testimony from your physician or doctor can also count as sufficient medical evidence. In addition, notes from your physician can also be used as medical evidence. These types of medical evidence can be used by insurance companies to determine the extent of your injuries and the amount of compensation you should receive in your workers’ compensation claim.  

Proving Your Injuries Required Medical Attention 

The injured party is responsible for proving that the injury is related to their job, and the first step is acquiring immediate medical attention. Seeking a doctor’s opinion on your condition helps establish a document trail that can strengthen your case. 

There are also various types of information you must provide when filing a workers’ compensation claim with the insurance company, which can be otherwise impossible without relevant medical evidence and diagnosis from a doctor. 

For example, information regarding the injured worker’s potential to return to work must be submitted to the insurance company, and a qualified medical professional can give their opinion on your condition by conducting diagnostic tests. Medical evidence also helps determine the potential treatment costs associated with your injuries, which can be critical information for the insurance company.

How to Obtain Medical Documentation?

The lack of complete medical records is one of the primary reasons workers’ compensation claims get denied. In some cases, the medical records exist, but the injured workers fail to gather the required medical records.

Typically, when the injured employee sees a doctor regarding their medical condition, the doctor can have a conversation with them about how the injury occurred and when the symptoms began appearing. However, it is possible that the doctor does not create any documentation about the cause of the injury. This can lead to confusion as to whether the injury was a result of a workplace accident or a result of a preexisting condition. Therefore, injured workers must ask their doctors to create a letter detailing the cause of the injury for legal purposes.

In some cases, your lawyer can also recommend you get a second opinion from a qualified professional for your workers’ compensation case. They can also help you obtain a vocational rehabilitation assessment and have the vocational expert testify for your case. 

Obtaining medical records can be time-consuming and challenging for an injured worker without legal assistance. A lawyer can help you obtain the required medical documentation from the doctors in charge of your case.