Legal Question in Workers Comp in Michigan

Workmans Comp. and the refusal of my employer to send me to the doctor.

I hurt my wrist at work. The company I work for has sent me to their doctor and he said my wrist was severly sprained.The doctor perscribed me some pain pills and put me on light duty upon my return to work. My wrist is still in servere pain and I went to work today and my wrist really began to hurt.I take the pills the doctor gave me but the pills don't work. I asked my foreman if I could return to the doctor and he said no! So my question is ....What is the law in michigan as far as making a workmans comp. claim? and what do i need to do to file the claim? or what determines if i even have a claim?


Asked on 8/21/01, 10:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: Workmans Comp. and the refusal of my employer to send me to the doctor.

You first must decide what you will do for medical treatment. Since you asked the company to provide treatment and they have declined, you can seek treatment at your own doctor. In fact, if they chose the doctor for you, you have a right to switch to your doctor after 10 days. Second, you must determine if the can perform the job. If you cannot perform the job, then you will leave the work and file a petition for workers compensation. This is best done through a lawyer specializing in workers compensation. A hearing would be set up to determine if you have a work related injury and whether you sustained a wage loss as a result. The most pressing issue always is, if you cannot do the job and the employer does not pay you comp voluntarily, how do you live while the issue is being determined in the workers compensation bureau. No one will have an answer to this question. Cases generally take anywhere from 9 months to one year to resolve.

Read more
Answered on 8/22/01, 2:01 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Workers' Compensation Law questions and answers in Michigan