[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/can-i-see-my-own-doctor-for-workers-comp-in-alabama\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/can-i-see-my-own-doctor-for-workers-comp-in-alabama\/","headline":"Can I See My Doctor for Workers\u2019 Compensation in Alabama?","name":"Can I See My Doctor for Workers\u2019 Compensation in Alabama?","description":"The rules for assigning doctors to workers\u2019 compensation cases in Alabama are strict. You have no guarantee that your preferred doctor will serve as your treating physician. Regardless of who provides your treatment, you must see them and follow their instructions. If you don\u2019t, you could jeopardize your...","datePublished":"2025-04-07","dateModified":"2026-03-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/author\/dothanalabamalawyer\/#Person","name":"Aaron Gartlan","url":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/author\/dothanalabamalawyer\/","identifier":6,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3d2cf6b9fa253242e9c4d79550a007842dd4738da75634f31cb576c537fb5159?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3d2cf6b9fa253242e9c4d79550a007842dd4738da75634f31cb576c537fb5159?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Gartlan Injury law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Gartlan-Logo-3Color-Horizontal-NoBackground-2.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Gartlan-Logo-3Color-Horizontal-NoBackground-2.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/doctor-injured-patient.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/doctor-injured-patient.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/can-i-see-my-own-doctor-for-workers-comp-in-alabama\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew","name":"What Should I Do If I\u2019ve Been Injured on The Job in Alabama - Gartlan Injury Law","description":"Visit our website to learn more about how we can help and get in touch: https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/what-to-do-if-injured-on-job\/\n\nGartlan Injury Law\n408 S Foster St\nDothan, AL 36301\n(334) 699-4625\nhttps:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/piiNEmRXVew\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/piiNEmRXVew\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/piiNEmRXVew\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/piiNEmRXVew\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/piiNEmRXVew\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2024-05-28T13:43:28+00:00","duration":"PT1M50S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/piiNEmRXVew","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC_3-KhtACb15xdEWmYBKgFA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC_3-KhtACb15xdEWmYBKgFA","name":"Gartlan Injury Law","description":"Attorney Aaron Gartlan and our team at Gartlan Injury Law are aggressive advocates who always have our clients' best interests at heart. We are dedicated to providing outstanding service to personal injury victims and their families in Dothan and throughout Alabama and to pursuing maximum compensation for their injuries and losses.\n\nADDRESS:\nGartlan Injury Law\n408 S Foster St\nDothan, AL 36301\n\nPHONE:\n(334) 699-4625","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_kBVfrIFk4Bsc_V6O0WlwZayeYFHPJcGO1Jg8bofguUsw=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=piiNEmRXVew#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":18}]]},"about":["Workers Compensation"],"wordCount":963,"articleBody":"The rules for assigning doctors to workers\u2019 compensation cases in Alabama are strict. You have no guarantee that your preferred doctor will serve as your treating physician. Regardless of who provides your treatment, you must see them and follow their instructions. If you don\u2019t, you could jeopardize your rights to workers\u2019 comp benefits.Suppose you are not satisfied with the assigned treating physician in your case. In that case, Gartlan Injury Law can help you ask your employer for a list of four doctors from which you can choose a designated workers\u2019 compensation physician and work with you to explore all other options for getting the care you need.For instance, when you work with Gartlan Injury Law, an experienced workers\u2019 compensation lawyer can draft a letter to request a new doctor from your employer and represent you in a hearing on your workers\u2019 compensation claim, if necessary. We can help you with every aspect of your workers\u2019 comp claim if you have been injured on the job anywhere in South Alabama, including ensuring you get proper medical care and that your benefits package includes everything you deserve.We want to help you move forward after an on-the-job injury has disrupted your life. Contact us today and learn more through a free consultation.Can I Change Doctors If I Am Unhappy with My Assigned Doctor?Workers\u2019 compensation insurance covers most employees injured on the job in Alabama. In addition to other benefits, workers\u2019 comp pays medical expenses related to workplace injuries and a portion of a disabled worker\u2019s lost wages during recovery.Your employer and their workers\u2019 compensation insurance carrier will assign a treating physician to serve as your designated workers\u2019 compensation physician for the length of your injury and claim.Immediately after an accident, an employee can seek emergency medical treatment from their own doctor or another provider. However, to protect their right to workers’ compensation benefits, the employee must seek follow-up care from an employer-designated doctor within five days of the accident.If you need further treatment but are dissatisfied with your initial, employer-selected treating physician, you can tell your employer and their insurance company in writing. Then, you will have a one-time opportunity to select a second physician from your employer’s chosen list of four physicians.Ideally, your employer should make it easy for employees to know who the designated workers\u2019 compensation physicians are. If possible, you can research the physicians in advance of receiving treatment.If the Initial Doctor Refers Me to Another Doctor, Does My Workers\u2019 Comp Cover That New Doctor?If your employer\u2019s designated workers\u2019 compensation physician refers you to another provider, workers\u2019 compensation should pay for the resulting medical expenses.Am I Permitted to Seek a Second Opinion for My Work-Related Injury?You may see your own doctor or another provider for a second opinion about your workplace injury. However, your workers\u2019 compensation coverage will not pay for this exam.If a second provider prescribes treatment contrary to the designated workers\u2019 compensation physician\u2019s treatment plan, or if you have another reason to do so, you can request permission from your employer or their insurance carrier to begin treatment by your doctor or another provider.Workers\u2019 comp will cover the doctor\u2019s treatments if you receive permission. However, if you do not receive permission, you must follow the treatment plan that your designated workers\u2019 compensation physician prescribes, or else you risk losing workers\u2019 comp benefits.What Is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)?If you and your employer, or your employer\u2019s designated physician, disagree about the extent of your injury, treatment, and ability to return to work, you may formally request an independent medical examination (IME) to help settle the dispute.If granted, a court will appoint a neutral physician of good standing to examine you and report their findings. The physician must be someone other than your doctor. It cannot be a physician treating you, including your designated workers\u2019 compensation physician, or a doctor previously treating you for the same work injury.If your employer requests an IME, you must undergo the exam, or your workers\u2019 compensation benefits will stop. You or your employer may request a copy of the independent physician\u2019s report. They may also need to testify if the dispute requires a hearing.What Would Be Some Valid Reasons for Wanting to Change Doctors?If you are unhappy with the designated physician assigned to you for an Alabama workers\u2019 compensation claim and the medical treatment you are receiving, Gartlan Injury Law can help you seek a change. Contact us to discuss such concerns as:Dissatisfaction with a designated workers\u2019 compensation physician\u2019s treatment plan.Disagreement about the severity of your injury.Disagreement about your readiness to return to work.Disagreement about your need for workplace accommodation.The designated workers\u2019 compensation physician lacks specialty expertise for your injury.You believe that the doctor is prioritizing your employer\u2019s interests over yours.To change your designated workers\u2019 compensation physician a second time (after choosing from the employer\u2019s list of four), you must formally request it and provide your reasons to your employer or their insurance carrier. Gartlan Injury Law can help you prepare this request and advocate for you in all hearings related to your medical treatment and all other benefits you deserve through your workers\u2019 compensation claim.\ufeffContact an Alabama Workers\u2019 Compensation LawyerAt Gartlan Injury Law, our workers\u2019 compensation attorneys are passionate about helping injured workers seek the benefits they deserve, including full and proper medical treatment. We always put people first and work hard to pursue just results for them. Contact us today to discuss how we can help with your workers\u2019 compensation claim and receive a free consultation.Visit Our Alabama Workers’ Compensation Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can I See My Doctor for Workers\u2019 Compensation in Alabama?","item":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/can-i-see-my-own-doctor-for-workers-comp-in-alabama\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]