Why Is It Important to See a Doctor After a Workplace Injury?

 Posted on September 08, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

If you have suffered a workplace injury, you should know that you have the right to workers’ compensation to cover your damages. This is an intense, multi-step process that can be overwhelming to handle on your own, and one of the most critical steps is to seek medical treatment after your injury.

Seeking medical treatment is not just beneficial for your workers’ compensation claim, but necessary for a full recovery. At Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC, our Naperville, IL workers’ comp lawyers can help you document your medical treatment to support your case. For over 25 years, we have worked to secure major victories for injury victims, including millions of dollars in successful payouts for injured employees.

Can I Be Paid for Medical Expenses Through Workers’ Comp?

In Illinois, workers’ compensation can cover a number of expenses from a workplace injury, including your medical bills. Some of these expenses may include:

• Hospital bills

• Medication

• Physical therapy

• Visits to a doctor or clinic

• Surgeries

More specifically, your employer must provide for all "necessary" medical care, according to Illinois law (820 ILCS 305/8). With this in mind, you have nothing to lose by seeking out medical treatment after a workplace injury. A doctor may also be able to identify underlying damages, like whiplash or a concussion, to increase the value of your workers’ compensation claim.

Can a Medical Exam Help Me Get Disability Benefits?

In addition to your medical expenses, workers’ compensation can also cover some of your lost wages while you are left unable to work. These payments are known as disability benefits, and they can be awarded to you whether you are partly or totally unable to work due to your injury.

Getting a medical examination does not guarantee that you will receive disability benefits. However, it can serve as helpful documentation, to support your claim with a professional opinion. A qualified physician can provide doctor’s notes and test results showing that you are unable to work at full capacity. This documentation can also show that your injury was work-related and not caused by a pre-existing condition.

How Soon Should I See a Doctor After a Workplace Accident?

Generally speaking, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after you have suffered a workplace injury. Although there is no strict time limit on when to seek medical treatment, doing so sooner rather than later may make it easier to prove that the injury was work-related.

Many employers in Illinois have a list of pre-approved healthcare providers that you can choose from. You can choose between two of your employer’s preferred providers, though you can opt out and see a doctor of your own choosing.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Workplace Injury Attorney

Even if your injuries are minor, seeking medical attention after a workplace injury is highly advisable. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Naperville, IL workers’ comp lawyers, call Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC at 815-730-1977 today. We want to make sure that you make a full recovery from your injuries without any unnecessary financial burdens.