Q: Is workers comp obligated to reimburse mileage driven to and from doctors and physical therapy?
Have been injured since June 2017 and this has not been brought up once from their side. How can I go ahead and make sure this is taken care of and can they deny it.
A: As a general rule, the workers' compensation insurer is not obligated to pay for mileage to and from treating doctors, physical therapy, and so on if the trips are relatively short. If your doctor refers you to someone far away such as the Mayo Clinic, on the other hand, the insurer can be required to pay mileage, hotel/motel charges, etc. The insurer must pay travel expenses for you to attend an independent medical exam (IME) if they set one up.
A:
It really depends on the circumstances. The short answer is yes. It is impracticable and petty to keep track of mileage for short trips. Long trips and any IME's must be paid for. Without an attorney, how do you intend to seek reimbursement. Most attorneys will choose NOT to request it most of the time because it is often inconsequential and many trips are multi-tasked.
If you are not represented by experienced counsel, you are cheating yourself. Even AFTER paying your attorney, you will get at least 10% to 20% more than you could get on your own. Moreover, without counsel, you have no idea whether your benefit rates are being paid at the correct rate. That can really add up. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation in the morning. 312-465-2914
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