I don’t like the company doctor

I don’t like the company doctor

It is something we hear from clients and prospective clients who have an Alabama workers compensation claim; “I don’t like the company doctor workers’ compensation is making me see,” or “I want another doctor to treat me.” For whatever reason, the injured worker does not think the authorized treating physician the workers compensation insurance adjuster is forcing them to see either believes them when they talk about their pain, or rather than looking out for their best interest-they are looking out for the workers’ compensation insurance carrier’s interest.  Or maybe the surgeon has said there is nothing more they can do, and they want another physician to take a look at them and see if they can do more to help.  Regardless of the reason, there are steps the injured worker can take to see another doctor.

As we discussed in previous blogs, your employer’s workers compensation insurance carrier has to pay for any and all medical treatment which are reasonable and necessary given your job injuries.  Having stated this, Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation Statute realizes that there may be times in which the injured worker is not satisfied with the treatment they are receiving from workers’ compensation’s physician.  This is why our workers compensation law allows the injured worker to request a new authorized treating physician.  This is done by requesting a Panel of Four Physicians.  The workers’ compensation insurance carrier picks 4 different physicians from 4 different facilities, and the injured worker can then choose one of the doctors to take over treatment for the work-related injury.  You may only request a Panel of Four once during the normal pendency of your workers comp claim.

Since the injured worker only has one shot at picking a new treating physician, requesting a Panel of Four is not something to be done on the spur of the moment.  Moreover, most injured workers do not have any knowledge about the physicians on their Panel of Four and they are hesitant to make an uninformed choice.  An experienced Alabama Job Injury lawyer can be invaluable in helping you choose the best physician for you given your injury and where in Alabama you live.

If you have suffered a job injury and you have questions about your rights under Alabama Workers Compensation laws, please do not hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama+ Workers Comp Lawyers at Powell and Denny today for a free consultation; and remember, virtual appointments are available through Zoom so you can meet with one of the attorneys of Powell and Denny from wherever you live.

Powell and Denny: We Work When You Can’t

Offices in Huntsville, AL and Birmingham, AL

Alabama Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Birmingham Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Central Alabama Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Hoover Workers Compensation Lawyers

Huntsville Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

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Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 7 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 3 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry

Mr. Denny is AV rated by Martindale Hubbard (the highest rating possible) and Mr. Powell has been rated as Superior by The National Registry and selected as a Lawyer of Distinction.

+ Powell and Denny have successfully represented injured workers from Birmingham, Huntsville, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Athens, Decatur, Town Creek Ardmore, Hartselle, Madison, Toney, Scottsboro, Ft. Payne, New Hope, Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz, Ashville, Anniston, Gadsden, Cullman, Jasper, Gardendale, Morris, Kimberly, Centerpoint, Leeds, Tarrant City, Fairfield, Hueytown, Bessemer, Adger, Tuscaloosa, Cordova, Alabaster, Pelham, Harpersville, Opelika, Phenix City, Montgomery, Clanton, Calera, Enterprise, Monroeville, Mobile, Evergreen, Centreville, Brent, West Blocton, Woodstock, Brierfield, Lakeview and towns and cities in between.

 

I don’t like the company doctor