If an employer fails to provide medical treatment within a certain timeframe after learning of an employee's injury, what can that employee do?

When an employer is aware of an employee's injury and fails to provide the necessary medical treatment within the mandated timeframe, the injured employee is typically entitled to select their own physician at the employer's expense. This option ensures that the employee can receive appropriate and timely medical care, which is crucial for their recovery and return to work.

Choosing their own physician allows the employee to take control of their healthcare needs, especially if there are delays or inadequate responses from the employer regarding treatment. The employer's responsibility to cover the costs of this independent choice reinforces their obligation to support injured employees during their recovery process.

The other options are less direct in addressing the immediate right of the injured employee to obtain necessary medical care. Filing a complaint with the state may be an option for addressing violations of workers' compensation laws, but it does not directly facilitate immediate medical treatment. Seeking independent medical coverage could lead to complications regarding payment responsibilities and may not guarantee that the employer will cover the costs associated with that choice. Changing work status to part-time does not address medical treatment and could complicate the situation without resolving the need for adequate healthcare. Thus, selecting a physician at the employer's expense stands out as the most straightforward and relevant way to ensure the injured employee receives the medical attention they