Workers’ Comp Foot Injury Michigan 2026 | Podiatrist

Injury Type	Typical Cause	WC Coverage	Podiatry Role	Expected Recovery
Crush injury / fracture	Heavy object dropped on foot	Full — diagnostic imaging, surgery, PT	Surgical repair, offloading, rehab orthotics	3–12 months depending on severity
Laceration / puncture	Sharp objects, machinery	Full — wound care, infection management	Wound debridement, closure, antibiotic care	2–8 weeks
Ankle sprain	Fall, slip on wet surface	Full — imaging, bracing, PT	Grade classification, brace fitting, PT referral	2–12 weeks by grade
Plantar fasciitis (occupational)	Prolonged standing, hard floors	Covered if work-caused; may require occupational documentation	Orthotics, cortisone, shockwave, work restrictions	6 weeks–6 months
Stress fracture	Repetitive weight-bearing on hard surfaces	Covered if work activity documented as cause	Imaging, CAM boot, activity restrictions	8–12 weeks
Chemical/thermal burn	Industrial chemicals, steam, hot surfaces	Full — specialist care, wound management	Debridement, grafting coordination, wound care	Weeks to months by burn depth
Tendon rupture	Fall, sudden forceful movement	Full — imaging, surgical care	Surgical repair, cast, PT protocol	4–9 months post-surgical

Step	Action Required	Timeline	Who Is Responsible
1	Report injury to supervisor immediately	Same day as injury	Employee
2	Employer files WC-100 form with insurer	Within 7 days (Michigan law)	Employer
3	Seek authorized medical care	Immediately; ER for emergencies	Employee + insurer authorization
4	DPM evaluation and treatment plan	Within 1–5 business days for non-emergency	Podiatrist + employee
5	Work restrictions documented by DPM	At first appointment	Podiatrist
6	Insurer approves ongoing care	Within 7–30 days per insurer	WC insurer
7	Functional capacity evaluation (if dispute)	As needed	Independent examiner
8	Maximum medical improvement (MMI) determination	At end of treatment	Treating DPM

Quick answer:Workers’ compensation in Michigan covers foot and ankle injuries sustained during employment: fractures, sprains, crush injuries, tendon ruptures, and overuse conditions. Injured workers receive treatment coverage and wage replacement. Balance Foot & Ankle provides workers’ comp evaluations, treatment, and return-to-work documentation. Call (810) 206-1402. Call (810) 206-1402.

Workers’ Compensation Foot & Ankle Injuries in Michigan: Your Complete Podiatry Coverage Guide

If you’ve injured your foot or ankle on the job in Michigan, your medical care should be 100% covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance — including podiatrist visits, X-rays, MRI, surgery, physical therapy, and any custom orthotics, walking boots, or crutches you need. You should pay nothing out of pocket. If your employer or their insurance carrier is making this difficult, you have legal protections under the Michigan Workers’ Disability Compensation Act.

Balance Foot & Ankle accepts Michigan workers’ compensation cases at both our Howell and Bloomfield Township offices. Call (810) 206-1402 — we’ll handle the insurance verification and prior authorizations so you can focus on healing.

Common On-The-Job Foot & Ankle Injuries We Treat

• Crush injuries & metatarsal fractures — pallet jacks, dropped equipment, vehicle rollovers
• Ankle sprains & fractures — falls from ladders, uneven surfaces, slip-and-fall on wet floors or ice
• Achilles tendon ruptures — sudden pivot or jump, particularly common in delivery, warehousing, and trades
• Lisfranc midfoot injuries — often missed on initial X-ray; we get the right weight-bearing imaging
• Plantar fasciitis & plantar fascia rupture — from prolonged standing on concrete, poor footwear, or sudden overload
• Calcaneal (heel bone) fractures — fall from height, common in construction and warehouse settings
• Puncture wounds & foreign bodies — nails through work boots, glass, metal shards. We treat infection, retrieve foreign bodies, and document everything for your claim
• Compartment syndrome — surgical emergency we recognize and treat immediately
• Neuropathy & complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) — when an initial injury develops into chronic nerve pain
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome — repetitive-motion or post-traumatic nerve compression

How Michigan Workers’ Comp Coverage Works for Foot Injuries

Under Michigan law, if you injure your foot or ankle in the course of employment, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance is required to cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment. This includes:

• Initial podiatrist evaluation and follow-up visits
• X-rays, MRI, CT, and ultrasound imaging
• Casting, splinting, walking boots, crutches, and braces
• Surgical procedures (outpatient or inpatient)
• Anesthesia and operating room costs
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Custom orthotics or shoe modifications when medically necessary
• Prescription medications
• Wage replacement (if you miss more than 7 days of work)

Choosing Your Own Doctor After 28 Days

Important: For the first 28 days after your injury, your employer can require you to see their preferred medical provider. After 28 days, you have the legal right to choose your own treating physician — including a board-certified foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS.

Many Michigan injured workers don’t know this and end up stuck with whichever clinic the insurance carrier chose. If your employer-directed care isn’t resolving your foot or ankle problem — call us. We can take over your care after the 28-day mark and document everything appropriately for your claim.

Why Choose a Podiatrist Specifically

Many work-comp clinics are urgent care or general orthopedic offices that handle foot injuries as a small fraction of their volume. Foot and ankle anatomy is complex, and certain injuries (Lisfranc, calcaneal articular fractures, posterior tibial tendon ruptures, syndesmosis injuries) are commonly missed or undertreated by non-specialists.

Dr. Biernacki is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS) — the highest credential in podiatric surgery — with thousands of foot and ankle reconstruction cases including post-traumatic deformity correction, complex fracture fixation, and limb salvage. For your work-related foot or ankle injury, you want the most specialized care your benefits cover.

What to Bring to Your First Visit

• Workers’ comp claim number (from your employer’s HR or insurance carrier)
• Insurance carrier name and adjuster phone number
• Any prior X-rays, MRI, or medical records
• List of all medications you’re taking
• Photo ID
• Date and detailed description of injury (when, where, how it happened, witnesses)

If you don’t have your claim number yet, we can help you contact your employer’s HR office to start the claim. Don’t delay treatment waiting on paperwork — Michigan law requires emergency and urgent care first.

What If My Employer Says I Can’t File?

If your employer is discouraging you from filing, telling you to use your personal health insurance, or claiming the injury isn’t covered — you may need a workers’ comp attorney. Michigan has strong worker protections and most attorneys handle these cases on contingency (no fee unless you win). We don’t provide legal advice, but we can refer you to local Michigan workers’ comp attorneys when needed.

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs)

Insurance carriers sometimes require an Independent Medical Examination — an evaluation by a physician they choose. While this is legal, the IME doctor’s opinion is not binding. If their assessment differs significantly from your treating podiatrist’s, your treating physician’s opinion carries substantial weight in any dispute. Dr. Biernacki provides thorough, well-documented evaluations that hold up to IME scrutiny.

Schedule Your Workers’ Comp Visit

Call (810) 206-1402 with your claim number ready. We’ll verify coverage, schedule you within the week, and handle prior authorizations directly with the insurance carrier. You should pay nothing out of pocket for a covered work injury.

• Howell: 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 (Livingston County)
• Bloomfield Township: 43494 Woodward Ave, Suite 208, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302 (Oakland County)

Related Conditions

In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your workplace foot injury, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

Seen at both offices — Howell and Bloomfield Township.