Workers’ compensation cases are not always cut-and-dry. In fact, your claim might even be initially denied. To improve your chances of successfully obtaining the workers’ comp you’re entitled to receive, you can speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Baltimore. Your workers’ compensation attorney will guide you through each stage of the process, including the independent medical exam.

Purpose

The word “independent” can be somewhat misleading, as an independent medical exam is not necessarily conducted by a neutral medical provider. Often, the exam is arranged by a worker’s employer or the workers’ comp insurance carrier. You may be required to have this exam if there are any lingering questions or disputes about your injuries. In some cases, attorneys request that their clients undergo a second independent medical exam to counter the results of the first one. During your exam, the doctor will seek to determine the following:

• Was your condition diagnosed correctly?
• Was your condition caused by the workplace?
• To which extent are you impaired?
• Do you need work restrictions?
• Can you return to work and if so, when?
• Do you require further testing or treatment?

Preparation

Before the exam, take a few minutes to review your medical history. It’s a good idea to bring detailed notes about the diagnostic tests and treatments you’ve had, the medications you took and are currently taking, and the symptoms and functional limitations you’re experiencing. This last type of information is particularly important; write down each of your symptoms and limitations, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Bring any medical devices you’re using to the appointment and give yourself plenty of time to get there.

Examination

When answering the provider’s questions, be polite, respectful, and honest. Avoid exaggerating your pain and other symptoms, but also avoid downplaying them. You can expect to discuss the workplace accident in detail. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means it doesn’t matter if you made a mistake that contributed to the accident. The most important information the medical provider will glean from this conversation is whether your injury was indeed work-related or not.

In the aftermath of a crash, it’s important to carefully document your injuries and provide this information to an injury lawyer in Baltimore. All types of car accident injuries can occur during both low-and high-speed crashes. Leg injuries are particularly common, since the legs can strike against the interior of the car or be struck by flying objects. Car accident injuries can include knee damage such as knee joint dislocation, bone fractures, and tendon ruptures. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) may both become hyperextended and torn. Knee injuries can require weeks of recovery time and sometimes reconstructive surgery is required.

Other types of car accident injuries can include fractures. When the leg strikes the steering wheel or instrument panel, the large bone in the thigh called the femur may fracture. If not treated surgically, femur fractures may sometimes lead to long-term mobility problems. Other injuries can involve the feet and ankles, which may become broken or sprained.

After surviving a car accident in the Baltimore area, it may take weeks or even months to pick up the pieces. Enlisting the services of an injury lawyer will bring a powerful advocate to your side. Your injury attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and may file a personal injury lawsuit if need be. To begin the process, your attorney will need plenty of information from you about the accident.

Did you file a police report and take photographs?

It’s essential to file a police report after an accident. Making a “gentleman’s agreement” with the other driver is a sure way for you to get stuck with the bill, especially if the other driver does not carry insurance. You will need to obtain a copy of the police report and share this with your injury attorney. The police report is an invaluable piece of evidence that may demonstrate that the other driver was at fault for the crash. In addition to the police report, your injury attorney will need any other evidence you have. This will ideally include photographs of the crash site and the vehicles, copies of your medical records, and copies of your receipts for expenses related to the accident.

Did you seek medical care?

Many people jeopardize their claims by failing to seek medical care in a timely manner after a car crash. Even if you feel you are not seriously injured, it’s essential to get to a doctor right away. Your injury attorney will ask whether you sought care immediately, where you were treated, and whether you underwent any medical tests such as imaging studies. The results of medical tests can be powerful evidence for substantiating your injury claims.

Have you sustained a permanent disability?

It’s important to keep your attorney updated about the progress of your recovery. At some point, it may become clear that you have sustained a permanent disability. Share this information with your lawyer immediately because it will significantly affect the amount of compensation he or she will seek on your behalf. If you have sustained a permanent disability, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your loss of earning capacity and your future medical expenses.

Workers’ compensation claims in Baltimore are notoriously difficult for employees to sort through. After sustaining an injury or illness while on the job, it’s highly recommended that you enlist the help of a workers’ compensation lawyer. Your lawyer can offer legal guidance and answer your questions about your medical benefits and wage compensation. When you go to appointments with your workers’ compensation lawyer , be sure to bring along any new written instructions from your doctor.

Documenting Your Injury

Ideally, injured workers should seek medical care as soon as possible after the injury occurs. One of the primary ways that a doctor can facilitate a workers’ compensation claim is by documenting the injury in the patient’s medical records. Be as specific as possible during your appointment with the doctor. Explain all of the symptoms you have experienced and the level of pain you have. Explain when your symptoms first occurred and whether they have grown worse. You should also give your doctor details about the incident. For example, you may have broken a hand while falling in the office. You might explain that you slipped on a spilled liquid in the office, lost your balance, and fell on your hand.

Determining the Cause of the Injury

As your workers’ compensation lawyer can explain, your benefits are contingent upon the determination that your injury or illness did indeed arise from the course of your employment. If the case involves an acute injury, the cause is usually clear-cut. However, some work-related health problems that may have less clear causes include repetitive strain injuries and illnesses. In these cases, it’s particularly important to give your doctor as much information as you can regarding how your work activities caused the health problem. For repetitive strain injuries, you can describe all of the movements you are required to perform that cause your pain. For illnesses, you should share information about any toxic substances you may be exposed to at work.

Clearing You for Work

Your doctor will determine when you are medically cleared to return to work. It’s important to keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor. Let your doctor know if your pain or other symptoms have persisted or perhaps worsened. Ask your doctor if you might require any work modifications when you return to your job.

Car accident injuries range considerably in severity and type, but many of them have the potential to cause long-lasting or permanent disfiguration. If your doctor expects you to have permanent scars from your car accident injuries, be sure to inform your injury lawyer of this development. When filing an accident injury lawsuit in Baltimore, your lawyer may seek compensation for your permanent disfigurement.

After you recover, you might consult a cosmetic surgeon to discuss procedures that can help minimize your scarring. It’s important to keep track of all of your expenses pertaining to the disfigurement, including surgeon consultation fees and operating costs. Your lawyer may be able to recover compensation to cover these costs for you. Permanent disfigurement can also be a factor in seeking damages for psychological injuries. You might consider visiting a mental health counselor or psychologist. During a trial, these types of expert witnesses might testify regarding your psychological injuries that have resulted from your permanent disfigurement.

Workers’ compensation claims are based on a no fault system. This means that workers who sustain injuries in the workplace can file a workers’ compensation claim in Baltimore without having to prove that the accident occurred because of fault or negligence. Usually, the no fault nature of workers’ comp means that employees give up their right to file lawsuits against their employers because of workplace injuries. However, there are exceptions. After sustaining injuries because of your job, you have the right to consult a workers’ compensation lawyer to determine if you might be able to recover greater compensation through a lawsuit. This will depend on whether the incident was accidental or caused by negligence.

Differentiating Between Accidents and Negligence

By definition, an accident is an unplanned, unexpected event that causes bodily injuries and did not occur due to someone’s fault. For example, an office worker could be carrying a heavy box of copy paper. He or she might stub a toe, fall to the floor, and break an arm. Assuming that nothing except pure chance caused the stubbed toe, this is an example of an accident. In contrast, an accident caused by negligence might not necessarily be an intentional effort to injure someone, but it does occur due to someone else’s fault. A freshly mopped floor might result in a slip and fall incident. If an employer failed to provide safety equipment like wet floor signs, then this might be an example of negligence. Negligence can be broadly defined as conduct that falls below the standard of care that a person could reasonably expect to maintain.

Identifying the Types of Workplace Negligence

When your workers’ comp lawyer evaluates your claim to determine whether it might be appropriate to file a lawsuit, he or she will look for acts or behaviors that fall below the widely accepted standard of care. Negligent acts can include any types of violations of OSHA standards. An employer might be negligent in failing to properly train employees in safety procedures or the use of safety equipment. Sometimes, an employer might even be found to be negligent in hiring or employee retention procedures if an improperly screened hire harms others in the workplace.

Car accidents can occur anywhere at any time and sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact cause. However, determining the cause and contributing factors to a car accident that occurs in Baltimore is an essential step in the recovery process. This is because a car accident lawyer will need to assess liability for the crash to help the victims recover maximum compensation for their injuries and other losses. Police reports are often very helpful in uncovering crash-related issues such as the following.

Teen Drivers

Drivers aged 16 through 19 are most at risk for a crash compared to all other age groups. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,163 teens in the U.S. were killed and 243,243 were rushed to the ER for serious injuries because of motor vehicle crashes that occurred in 2013. The CDC further notes that young drivers aged 15 through 24 comprise just 14% of the U.S. population, yet they are responsible for 30% of the total costs stemming from motor vehicle crashes. Male teens represent the highest risk and this risk increases further when male passengers are in the car. The presence of passengers of either sex in a car driven by a teen driver of either sex is also a significant risk factor for a crash. This could be because teens are more likely to try risky driving behaviors when their peers are present and/or because passengers are a considerable source of distraction while driving. The risk associated with teen drivers is also attributed to their relative inexperience with handling a car.

Driving Distractions

In addition to the distracting influence of passengers, there are many other sources of distraction that can contribute to car accidents. It’s common knowledge that cellphones, GPS devices, and other electronic gadgets can easily distract a driver. However, many other activities can be incredibly distracting, such as eating and drinking, grooming, rubbernecking at crash sites and at billboards, reaching for fallen objects, and even daydreaming.

Busy Roadways

Another factor that can increase the risk of a crash is a very busy roadway. Experienced drivers already know that they ought to exercise greater caution during rush hour traffic, but sometimes even the most cautious of drivers can forget to check a blind spot before changing lanes. During rush hour, it’s particularly important to actively and continuously monitor the changing traffic patterns.