Legal Question in Workers Comp in Missouri
Possibly a work related injury...?
I am 24 and have been at my current job for over a year and a half. I use a computer all day long. Over the past few months, my upper back (or inside the right shoulderblad) has pains and burns. I have yet to see my doctor about it. I also have numbing and burning in my arms, wrist and hands throughout the day. I do stretches to try and help the pain and burning. Should I see my regular doctor and find out what is going on? I've mentioned to co-workers and my boss about my back pain. A co-worker said it's because I'm sitting at the computer all day. My boss said nothing. I am in the process of looking for new employment, however if this is a work related injury, then I want to take action on them. I'm only 24 and I have a bachelors degree. I don't want to switch jobs then find out that I have a serious back problem caused from this job. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Possibly a work related injury...?
Look at your company manual. Does it tell you how you are to report a work related injury. If it does, tell that person of your problem and that you feel it might be work related. If it does not, then tell your boss about it again, and make ap oint of teling them that you feel it might be work related, and you want to have doctor examine you. They are required to make an incident/injury report, (assuming they meet the statutory minimal business size).
Your employer has the right to send you to "their" doctor, and you must give them the chance. You can have some say over the choice of care provider, if you are not rgetting adequate treatment.
If your employer fails to offer you the opprotunity to be seen by their doctor, go see yours. Tell either doctor what your pains and aches are, when they occur and what seems to make them better or worse. You are wise to look into this before you leave this employer.
Good Luck
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