WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY WORKER'S COMP CLAIM ADJUSTER DOESN'T GET ME THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE I HAVE BEEN NEEDING?

Anyone injured in the course of employment should retain a workers compensation attorney. Workers compensation attorneys do not charge for an initial consultation and most fees are paid directly by the insurance company. An attorney representing you has a duty to pursue all benefits due to you. Insurance company claims adjusters are not going to notify you as to all of the benefits to which you are entitled. Their interest is to close the file as early and efficiently – to them – as possible. This answer is provided for informational purposes only. Actual legal advice can only be provided in an office consultation by an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction, with experience in the area of law in which your concern lies.

Your question requires specific details to be known that you have not supplied. Has the claim been accepted as compensable or has it been controverted? If controverted then they will not pay for medical without being made to do so. If it is accepted, there could be a number of reasons she is not returning you call but you may have to hire an attorney and file a request for hearing to get medical treatment you deserve.

Unfortunately, this is not surprising. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible, whether it's lost wages or medical coverage. Your best bet is to hire an attorney to deal with them. They will take you more seriously and hopefully you can get the medical help you need. An initial consultation with a workers' compensation attorney is usually free and a great way to get your questions answered. If you have further questions, feel free to give me a call. I'm licensed in Illinois but I can recommend a colleague in your area if you'd like to meet with someone. 1-800-807-9530. Good luck.

You should definitely consult with a workers' compensation attorney, even if you have previously had a good working relationship with your adjuster and the recent communication breakdown you are experiencing has not been the norm throughout the course of your claim to date. It may be necessary for you to hire the attorney and for the attorney to request a hearing, or it may be possible for the attorney to file a notice of representation and to help you resolve your medical issues without the need for litigation, depending on the specific facts of your case. Regardless, however, workers' compensation is a highly specialized area of the law and there are many rights to which you are entitled in terms of your medical treatment which most adjusters will not make you aware of and which you could potentially lose as your claim moves forward. Hiring an experienced workers' compensation attorney to guide you through the process and to assist you in obtaining the best medical care possible within the confines of the workers' compensation system can make or break your case and can be the difference between obtaining the best possible recovery, both medically and economically, or otherwise finding yourself with a less than optimum result at the conclusion of your claim due to limited options in terms of future medical treatment and ongoing indemnity benefits. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible in order to ensure that you obtain all medical treatment to which you are entitled and that you preserve any and all rights related to medical and income benefits for your claim.