Go to a company doctor for you cure treatment after maritime injury? Read reasons why this may lose your Jones Act claim here.

There are several reasons you don’t want to go to a company selected doctor for your cure treatment after a maritime Jones Act injury.

First, the company only has to pay for treatment that the doctor recommends. Many company doctor refuse to recommend basic tests such as MRIs or nerve testing after an injury. If you cannot diagnosis your injury, you will not be able to prove your injury.

Also, your company only has to pay maintenance and cure until the doctor says you are at ‘maximum cure’ or ‘maximum medical improvement’. A company doctor is often much more likely to release you sooner and declare that you are at ‘maximum cure’. Once he does this, the company terminates your maintenance and cure.

Finally, some people say ‘I will go to the company doctor until I disagree with him, then I can get a second opinion.’ Well the trouble with that idea is that once the company doctor releases you and declares that you are maximum improvement and do not need any more treatment, the company uses this as a basis to refuse to pay for a second opinion form a doctor you select.

You have to select your doctor and make sure you trust his opinion. Agreeing to see the company doctor until you ‘disagree’ with him can often ruin your case. It is simply too late to turn back the clock.