5 Essential Steps To Take After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
If you have a slip-and-fall accident, there are five steps you should take immediately afterward, no matter where you fall. Here’s what you need to know.
If you were injured or became ill on the job, there’s a lot of red tape to go through, from getting a medical evaluation and treatment to filling out the right forms.
Because not every doctor has the expertise or stamina to deal with a workers’ comp claim, you should see a doctor who specializes in handling such cases.
If you’re in the Pompano Beach, Florida, area, that doctor is Patrick Brennan, DO, of Coastal Pain Medicine. Board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and in pain medicine, he’s equipped to help you navigate the system.
Here’s what’s involved in the workers’ compensation process.
If you were injured on the job, you’re entitled to workers’ compensation, which may cover your doctor visits, ongoing treatment, and lost wages.
Every state has its own rules about workers’ comp, so you need to know the specifics of the system. In Florida, if you sustain an on-the-job injury, you must report the problem to your employer within 30 days or risk losing any benefits.
Once notified, your employer contacts their insurance company, which sends you information about your rights and responsibilities. They also provide information about the state’s workers' compensation law and what, specifically, you need to do.
Your employer or the insurance company may want you to see one of their doctors for an evaluation. If not, you can go to your own physician. Dr. Brennan provides evaluations for insurance companies so patients can file their workers’ comp claims.
If you become injured, you just want to get medical attention and feel better. The last thing you’re thinking about is filling out paperwork. In Florida, though, it’s the doctor who fills out the forms, not the patient — specifically, the DFS-F5-DWC-25. In this form, he:
The only time you may need to submit paperwork yourself is if the state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation sends you a request for more information. Usually, though, they address this to the physician.
If the insurance company approves the proposed treatment plan, they cover all your medical costs associated with the claim.
It’s never fun navigating red tape, but it helps if you understand the workers’ compensation mentality. At Coastal Pain Medicine, we do.
And since we specialize in interventional pain medicine, we’re uniquely positioned to understand your injury and how to treat it. We offer a wide range of options, including minimally invasive procedures aimed at alleviating your discomfort, no matter the cause.
We’re also different from most doctors’ offices in that we have a claims department dedicated to workers’ comp. Our staff regularly works with employers, claims adjusters, attorneys, and nurse case managers, giving you the support you need to navigate the system and get things done.
We guarantee you an initial assessment within three days after you contact us, and we deliver a 24-hour turnaround on all required paperwork, including the DWC-25 and the physician’s patient care notes.
Ultimately, our goal is to find a permanent solution for your injury, one that allows you to achieve MMI quickly and be able to return to work as soon as possible.
If you were injured on the job and need help getting the necessary care and workers’ comp benefits, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our claims manager will guide you through the entire process.
