Ideally, you should see a doctor immediately after a work injury. In addition to getting immediate medical treatment, you should report the accidental injury to your supervisor, providing information about when, where, and how the accident happened.
Seeing a doctor immediately after an on-the-job injury can improve your chances of getting fair compensation for your losses. You can learn more about deadlines associated with workplace accidents from a Bronx workers’ compensation lawyer.
How Long Do You Have to See a Doctor for a Work Injury?
You should get medical care immediately after a job site accident.
Waiting to get treatment for your injuries may allow your employer or an insurance company to deny your claim. For example, your employer may claim that your injuries occurred outside of your job because you waited and got medical care at a later time.
Getting medical care immediately can also improve your chances of making a full recovery from your injuries.
Can You Wait to See a Doctor After a Workplace Accident?
Technically, you have up to 30 days to report your injury in writing to your employer from the date of your accident. Some injured workers wait to get medical care until closer to this deadline.
However, we recommend that you do not wait to visit a doctor. The longer you wait, the more challenges you may face while trying to get compensation for your losses.
What Else Should You Do After a Work Injury?
In addition to getting medical care immediately after an accident at work, you should inform your employer of the incident. You should also:
- Write down everything you remember about the accident
- Get contact information from anyone who saw the accident
- Request a copy of the accident report from your employer
- Take pictures of your injuries and the scene of the incident
Taking these steps can back up your story of events about the accident, strengthening your claim for fair payment for your losses.
Additionally, you should reach out to a workers’ compensation attorney for professional help. You do not have to figure out the steps to take after an on-the-job accident on your own. You can get someone on your side who will stick with you every step of the way.
A lawyer can build your claim and answer questions like, “How long do I have to see a doctor after a work injury?”
You Need to Notify the Workers’ Comp Board
You will need to officially report your accident to the workers’ comp board to get benefits. The board requests that you provide notification as quickly as possible after an incident. However, you have up to two years to report an illness or injury.
Your Employer Must Also Notify the Workers’ Comp Board
New York’s workers’ comp system requires your employer to provide notification of any illnesses or injuries that require employees to take at least one day away from work. They must also report illnesses or injuries that require medical care that goes beyond basic first aid.
Your employer must file this report within 10 days of an accident resulting in an injury.
How Long Does it Take to Get Benefits for a Work Injury?
The time you have to wait to receive benefits will vary, often depending on how long you wait to report the incident. The insurance company may quickly cover the costs of your medical bills as long as you can connect them to your workplace accident.
However, you will have to wait at least a week to begin getting benefits for your lost wages because the workers’ comp system only begins covering these losses if you miss seven consecutive days at work.
Once you begin receiving benefits for your lost pay, you should continue to receive them until you reach your allotted cap or recover from your injuries and return to work.
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The Insurer Must Notify You Quickly if They Dispute a Claim
An insurer can dispute your request for workers’ comp benefits after an accident. Typically, the insurer must notify you of the dispute within 10 days of the time they learn of your injury or illness, OR within 18 days of the start of your disability benefits, whichever happens later.
The insurer must also provide you with reasons for the dispute of your claim.
Talk to Us About Getting Medical Care After a Workplace Accident
So, how long do you have to see a doctor after a work injury? In most cases, you need to visit a medical professional as soon as possible after an accident at your job. However, you may wait in some cases, though delaying your visit could make it more difficult for you to secure benefits through the workers’ comp system.
Our team at O’Connor Law can provide more detailed information about the deadlines for your New York workers’ comp claim. We have over three decades of combined experience that we can use to help with your legal needs.
