The Company Doctor

Employers often refer their injured employees to a particular doctor or medical clinic for care. These company doctors assist the employers in minimizing the company’s losses following a Jones Act injury. Medical care is typically paid for out of the employer’s pocket, without a Jones Act insurance claim ever being filed. X-rays are often used to intentionally render a diversion diagnosis. For example, following a back injury, the company doctor may use an x-ray to document a diagnosis of arthritis (a non-work-related condition), when in fact, further imaging may show other serious trauma.

Company doctors and their staffs are skilled in returning injured seaman to work with a limited or light-duty release, without having had the proper care or referral to a specialist.

A good Jones Act attorney can assist you in finding a doctor who:

• Has an office close to you
• Is interested in helping you get better
• Has no relationship with the employer
• Has a staff that knows how to file with the employer’s insurance
• Has a good reputation for assisting injury victims during the ongoing claim

If you have any uneasy feelings about your doctor at all, no matter how slight, contact a Jones Act lawyer today for assistance in locating a doctor that will help you and your case during this trying time.