San Francisco, CA asked in Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation for Arizona

Q: Hi there so broke my hand at work 4 to 5 weeks ago . in that time I have seen doctor every week. 1 week into break I wa

I was released to go back to work. Just don't use hand..as of today my hand is not in a cast and it should have been weeks ago. My hand hurts and will heel wrong . so future looks bad for hand. They did give me a wrist brace with wrap. This all sounds not right. This is a workmans comp. Injury. Case. My questions are why am I working and my work I do its to hard not to use my hand. I should be at home getting a workmans comp check. Shouldn't I be getting some money. And why is my hand not in a cast yet ? They may have to re break it. Thats wrong.

2 Lawyer Answers

A: Good morning. It's not clear from your message how you believe your hand was broken and should be in a cast (like an x-ray or something else), and why you think you cannot do your regular work, since you apparently have been to a doctor who would make those decisions. It will make a difference which hand is injured - dominant that you use to write and do most daily activities - and what job you were doing at the time of the injury. How you were injured, what happened in the accident, makes a difference also.

You are not entitled to wage loss payments until you have been off work at least 7 calendar days, not necessarily in a row. The time off work has to be at the direction of your doctor even if you disagree with their work status.

Depending on who you work for, you may have the right to go to any doctor you want, although you will have to get a referral from where you have been going or you will need the agreement of the workers' compensation insurance company. That can get complicated.

I suggest you get a copy of your claim file (especially all of your medical records), and contact a workers' comp attorney. Thank you for your question, hope this answer helps

Tim Akpinar and Freddy Saavedra agree with this answer

Freddy Saavedra
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Answered

A: Each one of your questions should be addressed to a worker's compensation attorney or your doctors. If you have not been in contact with a worker's compensation attorney obtain your claim file and medical records and setup a free consultation.

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