[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/your-rights-after-a-workplace-injury\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/your-rights-after-a-workplace-injury\/","headline":"Your Rights After a Workplace Injury in Oklahoma","name":"Your Rights After a Workplace Injury in Oklahoma","description":"\u201cI got hurt at work. What are my rights?\u201d Many injured workers have asked this question. The answer depends on what state you work in. You may file a claim for workers\u2019 compensation benefits if you were hurt as a worker in Oklahoma, where nearly all employers are required to...","datePublished":"2023-12-18","dateModified":"2024-04-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/rbrlawfirm\/#Person","name":"Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons","url":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/rbrlawfirm\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d0925a45a81b21fd1dd057ea2aa3cf0b7862bc7e8478f659a09444e627cf1a3f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d0925a45a81b21fd1dd057ea2aa3cf0b7862bc7e8478f659a09444e627cf1a3f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rbrs-logo-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rbrs-logo-96x96.png","width":96,"height":96}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Your-Rights-After-a-Workplace-Injury-in-Oklahoma.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Your-Rights-After-a-Workplace-Injury-in-Oklahoma.jpg","height":600,"width":600},"url":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/your-rights-after-a-workplace-injury\/","about":["Workers' Compensation"],"wordCount":649,"articleBody":"\u201cI got hurt at work. What are my rights?\u201dMany injured workers have asked this question. The answer depends on what state you work in. You may file a claim for workers\u2019 compensation benefits if you were hurt as a worker in Oklahoma, where nearly all employers are required to carry workers\u2019 compensation insurance. Even if you were injured in another state, you may be able to pursue a workers\u2019 compensation claim in Oklahoma, if you were originally hired in the State of Oklahoma. When doing so, make sure you understand all your rights.Your Immediate Rights After Getting Hurt at WorkThe Oklahoma Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission outlines the rights and responsibilities of injured workers. Injured workers have the right to:\u25cf Seek free assistance through the Workers’ Compensation Commission\u2019s Counselor program – Be aware this isn\u2019t the same as hiring an attorney. Counselors who participate in the program can only offer general legal information. They cannot provide case-specific legal advice.\u25cf Seek medical treatment – For workers\u2019 comp to cover your medical bills, the treatment must be \u201creasonable and necessary,\u201d according to the OK Workers\u2019 Comp Commission.You also have certain responsibilities after being injured at work. You need to notify your employer of your injuries within 30 days, and you must follow the treatment plans your doctor gives you. If they provide work restrictions, you must abide by them.Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in OklahomaWorkers\u2019 compensation benefits in Oklahoma include:\u25cf Medical benefits – Coverage for medical treatment.\u25cf Disability – Coverage for lost wages if you\u2019re temporarily unable to work due to injury.\u25cf Partial disability \u2013 Coverage for the difference between the pre-injury wages and the injured worker\u2019s current wages.\u25cf Permanent total disability \u2013 Partial wage replacement if an injured worker can never work again.\u25cf Vocational rehabilitation – Employment training if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous line of work.\u25cf Continuing medical maintenance – Coverage for physician-recommended maintenance care that continues after treatment has ended.\u25cf Death benefits – The loved ones of those who pass in workplace accidents may be eligible for death benefits.Can You Change Physicians?Your employer has five days from learning of your injury to provide you with access to reasonable and necessary treatment. You may choose your physician if they don\u2019t fulfill this duty. Your employer will have to cover the expense.You may also change physicians in some circumstances. Your employer can choose your doctor if they haven\u2019t contracted with a certified workplace medical plan (CWMP). In these circumstances, you may submit an application to the OK Workers\u2019 Comp Commission requesting a one-time change.Your employer may then provide a list of three other physicians who may treat you. All the doctors they name must be qualified to treat your specific injury.If your employer has contracted with a CWMP, they can only choose a physician from the CWMP\u2019s network. Individual CWMPs have their dispute-resolution processes for changing physicians.Can You Sue Your Employer After Getting Compensated?No. Workers\u2019 compensation is an exclusive remedy in Oklahoma. In exchange for providing workers\u2019 comp insurance, you can\u2019t sue your employer for a workplace injury unless their intentional or egregious negligence caused it.However, you may be able to file a third-party lawsuit. This might be an option if your injuries resulted from another party\u2019s negligence, such as a speeding driver or a manufacturer of defective machinery.Get Help from the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & SimonsAt Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, we\u2019d be glad to answer any questions you may still have about your rights as an injured worker. Contact us online or call us today for a free case review.Ryan Bisher Ryan & SimonsWe are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Your Rights After a Workplace Injury in Oklahoma","item":"https:\/\/www.rbrlawfirm.com\/blog\/your-rights-after-a-workplace-injury\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]