According to the National Safety Council, the U.S. records 4,260,000 workplace injuries yearly. While industries like construction, transportation, warehousing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining tend to have the highest injury rates, every industry in the U.S. poses some risk for injury to its workers. That is why workers must know what to do in the event of a workplace injury.[1]
Why Getting an MRI is so Important
Following a workplace injury, injured workers should do everything they can to examine and accurately diagnose and record the details of their injury. A properly diagnosed and fully understood injury is more likely to lead to a successful workers’ compensation claim. That means the injured worker will receive benefits and pay for work they miss while recovering from the injury.
Unfortunately, the employer’s insurance company has a vested interest in denying a workers’ comp claim or settling for the lowest compensation package possible. In so doing, the insurance company will likely try to minimize the injury or make it seem minor, inconsequential, or even nonexistent.
This is where an MRI comes in.
MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) are standard practice for serious injuries. But for slips and falls or seemingly minor spine and neck injuries, injury victims might not be encouraged by their doctor to get an MRI.
As a general rule of thumb, workers who slip, fall, trip, or experience any injury that involves collision, blunt force trauma, or harsh impact to the body should always demand an MRI.
An MRI can provide a more detailed view, including precise three-dimensional pictures of the human body. Such images allow physicians to understand far more about what has occurred in the patient’s body than what can be seen with x-rays.
To see the difference between x-rays and MRI and to get more information on why an MRI scan can provide patients with the information they need to diagnose and treat an injury, check out this webpage by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.[1]
In the Event of a Workplace Injury, Seek Legal Advice from NRS Injury Law
MRI scans provide injured workers with information about their injuries, which can better inform their decisions when filing for workers’ compensation. Most importantly, an MRI scan enables the worker to understand immediately what damage their body sustained from the injury, which can be a powerful tool in determining time-sensitive surgery and treatment plans.
NRS Injury Law is the largest workers’ compensation law firm in Ohio. If you or someone you know has been involved in a workplace accident, call NRS Injury Law today at 855.468.4878 or fill out our convenient online contact form. Don’t let the insurance companies prevent you or a loved one from receiving fair compensation for a workplace injury.
Sources:
[1] NSC. “Work Safety Introduction.” National Safety Council, 2022. injuryfacts.nsc.org
[2] NIBIB. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).” National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, 2022. nibib.nih.gov
