Unless you have suffered an injury at work, you may think of workers’ compensation as a one time payment for an accident or injury. In reality, many workers who have been hurt on the job find themselves dealing with chronic pain as a result of their injury. Some injuries result in short or long term disabilities which make it impossible for the affected worker to perform their job duties or any job duties in the case of serious injuries.
What happens to these workers who are unable to return to work? When chronic pain from injuries results in lengthy periods of time off work, it becomes imperative for the injured worker to have some sort of compensation to help cover long term medical expenses as well as lost wages.
Unfortunately, changes made by the New York Workers’ Compensation Board may limit the amount of time and the benefits injured workers are entitled to claim after suffering a serious injury resulting in chronic pain.
The change in policy came quietly with many injured workers not even aware of the situation until they were denied treatment or care from their doctors or long standing care givers. As stated in a recent post by the New York Daily News, “The agency now views itself as the protector of insurers and employers, ” said Robert Grey, a lawyer who specialized in workers’ compensation cases. “Clearly someone thinks cutting of medical treatment will save money for employers and insurance companies.”
Whether you agree with the change or not, the fact remains that many people will need care long past the new limits set forth by these changes in workers’ comp policies. If you find yourself in a situation where care is denied, consider discussing your case with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to find out what you can do to protect your benefits.
