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Workers' Compensation
News
- National Grid Works with Vermont High School to Avoid Injuries1/19/2012
- Increase in Workplace Fatalities1/18/2012
- Employees at Ski Resorts Are No Exception to Workplace Safety in Vermont1/3/2012
- Field Workers at Risk of Animal Injuries On-the-Job in Vermont1/2/2012
- Vermont Wind Turbine Elevators Not Subject to State Inspections12/20/2011
- Flood Waters in Vermont Have Caused Physical Hazards to Workers12/7/2011
Why should I be wary of an independent doctor after a workplace accident in Vermont?
If you or a family member has been injured on the job, one of your first calls will be to a doctor. Your boss may even hand you a list of company-approved doctors for your convenience.Choosing the right doctor can make a huge difference in the Vermont workers' compensation benefits you will receive.
Insurers often ask their employee to see what is referred to as an "independent doctor." Sometimes they call it an "independent medical examination." This request appears harmless enough. In theory, an independent doctor is just that - one who is partial to neither the employee nor the company.
In reality, in most cases the insurer has hired the doctor. This creates a conflict of interest for the doctor, who is no longer quite as "independent" or impartial as the insurer would like you to believe.
A doctor hired by the insurer has the company's bottom line in mind, not your best interests. Such a so-called independent doctor will try to find ways to reduce the company's medical costs - often at the expense of your health. You should be wary if:
- The doctor seems unusually interested in your activities following the accident. This may be a sign that the doctor is trying to find another cause for your continuing injuries rather than the work accident.
- The doctor ignores your own physician's requests for x-rays, physical therapy or other potentially expensive treatments, calling them "unnecessary."
- Your benefits are reduced following a visit to an independent doctor.
Remember, Vermont workers' compensation law states that your insurer must pay for all medical costs that the doctor deems to be reasonable and related to the work accident/injury.
If you feel the company-approved doctor is not giving you the best possible treatment, you may want to talk to an experienced Vermont workers' comp lawyer to discuss your options.
White River Junction lawyer Charles "Chip" Powell has years of experience representing clients like you. He knows the doctors who have entered the business of "independent medical examinations." He has opinions about which ones are fair. He has opinions on how to deal with a doctor who is wrongly reducing your benefits.
For more information on Vermont workers' comp benefits and your rights, call Chip today at 802-295-7773.
Charles L. Powell represents injured workers throughout Vermont and is available to speak with injured workers in all Vermont counties and towns including:
Windsor County - Andover, Baltimore, Barnard, Bethel, Bridgewater, Cavendish, Chester, Chester Depot, Hartford, White River Junction, Wilder, Hartland, Ludlow, Ludlow Village, Norwich, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, Springfield, Stockbridge, Weathersfield, Perkinsville, West Windsor, Weston, Windsor, Woodstock and Woodstock Village
Windham County - Athens, Brattleboro, West Brattleboro, Brookline, Dover, Dummerston, Grafton, Guilford, Algiers, Halifax, Jamaica, Londonderry, Marlboro, Newfane, Newfane Village, Putney, Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Somerset, Stratton, Townshend, Harmonyville, West Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, Westminster, North Westminster, Whitingham, Jacksonville, Wilmington, Windham and South Windham
Orange County - Bradford, Braintree, Brookfield, Chelsea, Corinth, Fairlee, Newbury, Orange, Randolph, Strafford, Thetford, Topsham, Tunbridge, Vershire, Washington, West Fairlee and Williamstown
Washington County - Barre, Websterville, Berlin, Cabot, Cabot Village, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Fayston, Marshfield, Marshfield Village, Middlesex, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Northfield Village, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Waterbury Village, Woodbury and Worcester
Caledonia County - Barnet, Burke, West Burke, Danville, Groton, Hardwick, East Hardwick, Mackville, Kirby, Lyndon, Lyndonville, Lyndon Center, East Lyndon, Newark, Peacham, Ryegate, South Ryegate, East Ryegate, Center Ryegate, Sheffield, St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury Center, Stannard, Sutton, Walden, Waterford and Wheelock
Chittenden County - Bolton, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St. George, Underhill, Westford, Williston and Winooski.
Windsor County - Andover, Baltimore, Barnard, Bethel, Bridgewater, Cavendish, Chester, Chester Depot, Hartford, White River Junction, Wilder, Hartland, Ludlow, Ludlow Village, Norwich, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, Springfield, Stockbridge, Weathersfield, Perkinsville, West Windsor, Weston, Windsor, Woodstock and Woodstock Village
Windham County - Athens, Brattleboro, West Brattleboro, Brookline, Dover, Dummerston, Grafton, Guilford, Algiers, Halifax, Jamaica, Londonderry, Marlboro, Newfane, Newfane Village, Putney, Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Somerset, Stratton, Townshend, Harmonyville, West Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, Westminster, North Westminster, Whitingham, Jacksonville, Wilmington, Windham and South Windham
Orange County - Bradford, Braintree, Brookfield, Chelsea, Corinth, Fairlee, Newbury, Orange, Randolph, Strafford, Thetford, Topsham, Tunbridge, Vershire, Washington, West Fairlee and Williamstown
Washington County - Barre, Websterville, Berlin, Cabot, Cabot Village, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Fayston, Marshfield, Marshfield Village, Middlesex, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Northfield Village, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Waterbury Village, Woodbury and Worcester
Caledonia County - Barnet, Burke, West Burke, Danville, Groton, Hardwick, East Hardwick, Mackville, Kirby, Lyndon, Lyndonville, Lyndon Center, East Lyndon, Newark, Peacham, Ryegate, South Ryegate, East Ryegate, Center Ryegate, Sheffield, St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury Center, Stannard, Sutton, Walden, Waterford and Wheelock
Chittenden County - Bolton, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St. George, Underhill, Westford, Williston and Winooski.
Contact Us
White River Junction Office
Gates-Briggs Building, Suite 312
5 South Main Street
White River Junction, VT 05001
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Testimonials
- Thank you Charles , so much for helping me through the hardest time in my life . I had no fight in me and you did it for me while being patient, compassionate and looking out for me , for my benefit .
I'm in such a better place now , Thanks to you and your staff . Your staff are so wonderful , a joy to work with , just really GREAT PEOPLE !!
I Thank You , to all of you . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING .
Thank you , Tammy Kemp - I can go on and on regarding how great this place is. Chip and his associates made this whole workers’ compensation time in my life a lot easier... (Joseph Scroggins)
- I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for the superb representation and moral support I received during my case.
- I retained the legal services of Charles Powell to represent myself when it came to workman’s compensation and issues that I had to deal with during my recovery.