866 OTP Law1 (Toll Free)
866-687-5291

Practice Areas

Firm News

view all

Library

Workers' Compensation

view all

Testimonials

"I wanted expert legal advice and I certainly got it!"

"Oxner Thomas Permar has a well-known reputation for fighting fair and winning cases.  We were well-prepared by our attorney, and we were given thorough guidance and options."

"I think of everyone involved on my case at OTP as friends.  You all always had a warm greeting  and a smile for me and you took a big interest in my case."

"Without my attorney's help, I would have been hung out to dry.  He looked out for me!"

"I could not be more pleased with the outcome of my case!  Amy Berry and Amy Gallimore are great communicators.  They are super friendly and professional."

"Everyone on the team was really personable and professional."

"Count me as 100% satisfied.  Kristin Packard is superb and Shelby Duncan is outstanding."

"The quick response and action by Justin Wraight when my case came to a critical point was impressive."

"I didn't have to deal with a bunch of legal jargon.  You explained it all to me so I could understand what was going on, and I appreciate that."

"Everybody was totally straight forward with me.  I didn't feel like I was just paperwork to them."

more

Blog Category:

Workers' Compensation

11/20/2009
Todd P. Oxner
Comments (0)

Are Company Doctors Accurately Reporting Workplace Injuries?

In handling workers' comp cases, we have found that company doctors may downplay the severity of accidents that occur at work.  Injured workers come to attorneys complaining of problems that continue to hurt weeks after the incident.  Or worse, they are concerned because they received an icepack and a  band-aid from the company doctor when it's clear that they should have been taken to the emergency room -- by ambulance.
 
What can be done and who's to blame?  Doctors report to others up the corporate ladder and  profits can be more important than employee well-being.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) keeps track of reported safety concerns and incidents.  Doctors and staff are under pressure to keep any concerns quiet to avoid fines for safety violations. The Whistleblower Protection Program gives rights to employees who notifiy OSHA of any concerns.
 
The US Government Accoutability Office has urged quicker audits and more worker interviews when concerns are reported -- and also reviews at random intervals to help combat inaccurate corporate injury reporting.  Read more in this recent Charlotte Observer newspaper article and also in the GAO posting.


Bookmark and Share


There are no comments.

Post a comment

Post a Comment to "Are Company Doctors Accurately Reporting Workplace Injuries?"

To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message."

Name:*

Email:* (will not be published)

Website:

Message:

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

For security purposes, please enter the graphic text in the box below: [hit F5 if you can not read the text]

Free Answers

Offices

OTP - Greensboro
1155 Revolution Mill Drive,
Studio 4
Greensboro, NC 27405
Phone: 336-274-4494
Fax: 336-271-6769
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Winston-Salem
110 Oakwood Drive, Suite 420
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: 336-274-4494
Fax: 336-631-5225
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Burlington
409 Alamance Road, Suite C
Burlington, NC 27215
Phone: 336-226-5925
Fax: 336-226-4492
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Asheboro
904 South Cox Street
Asheboro, NC 27203
Phone: 336-633-4496
Fax: 336-633-3394
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Raleigh
3700 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 350
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919-573-5241
Fax: 919-785-2239
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Fayetteville
4200 Morganton Road, Suite 200-11
Fayetteville, NC 28314
Phone: 910-764-3363
Fax: 910-764-3364
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Charlotte
550 S. Caldwell Street, Suite 1800,
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-547-1617
Fax: 704-574-1819
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Hickory
101 Government Avenue SW
Hickory, NC 28601
Phone: 828-322-1271
Fax: 828-322-1643
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

OTP - Wilmington
1213 Culbreth Drive,
Wilmington, NC 28405
Phone: 910-509-7274
Toll Free: 1-866-OTP-Law1

FAQs

Workers' Compensation

What's the definition of Average Weekly Wage?

What's medical compensation?

more

Case Studies

Workers' Compensation

What Can Go Wrong with a Return to Light Duty Work.

How a Functional Capacities Evaluation Can Wreck a Claim.

An Example of a Workers' Comp Adjuster Manipulating the Recorded Statement.

more