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If you are injured on the job, you expect your employer to remain professional and help you file a fair and accurate workers' compensation claim. Unfortunately, there are times when your employer will deny your claim, leaving you with no other choice then to hire an attorney to help you receive the workers compensation you deserve.
Here are a few of the most common reasons why workers' compensation claims are denied.
You Didn't Provide Witness Statements
Unfortunately, if you are injured at work, your employer and their insurance company won't always take your word for it. Ask any witnesses to the incident to provide their name and a detailed account of what they saw. They should include the time and place the accident occurred and the exact circumstances that led up to the incident. The more corroborating witness statements you can provide, the stronger your initial workers' compensation claim will be.
You Didn't Provide Information About Your Medical Records
After you suffer an accident at work, visit the doctor immediately to have your injuries documented and treated. Providing this information to your employer is necessary when filing a claim. However, what about your older medical records that aren't related to the accident?
If you have a preexisting condition that is unrelated to the accident, but was possibly exacerbated by the accident, you must disclose this to your employer and their insurance provider. For example, if your back was severely injured in a car accident, you must let your employer know this. Failing to disclose any previous medical conditions could disqualify you from receiving workers' compensation benefits.
Your Employer Argued the Injury Wasn't Significant
There are several potential injuries that can occur at work. Some are minor, and the employee can report the accident, seek medical treatment, and head back to work the next day. Other injuries are life-altering and threaten the employee's ability to support themselves. In some cases, even if the employee is in pain and working is difficult, but manageable, their employer may argue they don't need workers' compensation.
For example, if you suffer from a repetitive motion injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, your employer may argue that this type of injury isn't serious and that because the pain is manageable and there are therapies available that allow the employee to continue working, they shouldn't receive compensation benefits.
If you are ever injured at work and your employer or their insurance company denies your claim, contacting an attorney immediately is the best way to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.