Can I get a second opinion if the South Carolina workers’ comp doctor isn’t looking out for my best interest?

Maybe, but you need to be really careful. You should talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer first, as you are now face-to-face with the two-headed monster of South Carolina workers’ compensation law: the insurance company has the right to choose the doctor, and refusing treatment can get your benefits stopped.

But sometimes you do need a second opinion. For example, we’ve secured them for clients who almost got released from care before getting needed treatment, and who were faced with an inadequate financial settlement due to an impairment rating that was too low.

Free pointer: Maintain open and honest communication with the doctor. Express your concerns without blaming the doctor. Sincerely expressing your concerns and asking meaningful questions without attacking the doctor might clear the air and get you what you need.

If that fails, you should talk to a lawyer first. Getting treatment on your own outside workers’ comp is an enormous risk. Find out about that, and get all your questions answered in a free*, no pressure strategy session with a Spartanburg, SC workers’ comp attorney. Call toll free at (864) 582-0416 or fill out a Get Help Now form.

Here are ways we’ve gotten second opinions and gotten additional treatment approved when the insurance company initially denied it:

• We got the insurance company to agree to it. Sometimes the insurance company just needs to be shown the light by someone whose job is to show them the right way. Other times, we can make the case that a second opinion and an adjustment in the treatment plan will save the insurance company money in the long run.
• We can file for a contested hearing to get treatment approved. One purpose of the Workers’ Compensation Commission is to settle medical treatment disputes. But to get treatment you need, your case must be presented convincingly, supported by evidence satisfying the Commission’s legal standard. That’s our job, and we know how to do it right.

If you’ve been seriously hurt on the job in Spartanburg, Greenville, or any nearby community and if you question your medical care, there’s no doubt that must be addressed. But it needs to be addressed the right way, and since you only get one body and you only have one workers’ compensation case, you need to make sure both are protected to the fullest extent possible.

Call us at 864.582.0146 or toll free at (864) 582-0416 for a free*, confidential meeting to discuss how we can protect your rights to medical care and maximize the value of your settlement. Still unsure? Read how previous clients have gratefully endorsed our help.