When you're injured on the job, workers' compensation is there to help you get the medical care and financial support you need. But to secure those benefits, you need more than just your word—you need solid medical evidence. Understanding how this evidence can make or break your case is crucial.
Proving Your Injury is Work-Related
In Delaware, workers’ compensation benefits are only available if you can prove your injury or illness is tied to your job. That’s where medical records come in. These documents serve as proof, showing that your injury happened during work hours or was caused by job-related activities. Without them, it’s much harder to make your case.
Backing Up Your Medical and Disability Claims
Accurate medical records don’t just show how and when you were hurt—they also justify your claims for medical treatment and disability. For instance, to claim medical expenses and disability benefits, your records should cover things like:
Continuous treatment: Your records need to show the care you’ve been receiving since the injury.
Changes in your condition: Any improvement or worsening of your condition should be well-documented.
Recovery timeline: Your doctors should outline how long they expect your recovery to take.
Insurance companies and the Delaware Industrial Accident Board rely on these records to verify that the medical expenses you’re claiming are legitimate. Plus, if you’re applying for disability benefits, those records need to prove whether you’re temporarily or permanently disabled and how long you’re likely to be out of work.
Working with the Right Doctors
Keeping your medical records accurate and up to date is key. Make sure you tell your doctor about any changes in your condition as soon as they happen. It’s also a good idea to work with a healthcare provider experienced in handling Delaware workers' compensation cases. They’ll know the kind of documentation and testimony required to strengthen your case.
How We Can Help
Navigating the workers' compensation process can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Kimmel Carter, we’re dedicated to helping injured workers secure the benefits they deserve.
At Kimmel Carter, our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to guiding you through the Delaware Workers' Compensation process. If you or a loved one have been injured on the job, please call us for a free legal consultation at (302) 565-6100.
Excellent article, Linda.
I agree wholeheartedly with your position on the importance of the medical evidence in a workers compensation proceeding.