Understanding three top reasons a worker’s compensation claim may be denied before filing out your paperwork can save you headaches and speed up the time it takes to receive your much-needed benefits.
What Are Some Reasons A Worker’s Compensation Claim Can Be Denied?
While companies must have worker’s compensation coverage, the insurance company’s primary goal is not to pay out on that policy. Because of this, they may deny your claim for a few critical reasons.
A common reason a claim is denied is the fault of the injured party — you failed to report your injury to your employer within the required 30 days. Of course, if you didn’t know the harm occurred until after 30 days, there’s a chance this rule can be bent. But without a doubt, 30 days of you understanding the injury, it must be reported.
A second common reason for a denied claim is your company disputes your injury happened at work. After filing your claim, the insurance company will call you. The insurance company can use anything you say during the call against you, so the ideal scenario is to speak with a personal injury attorney. The insurance company will access medical files and claim even minor annoyances. Therefore, your employer doesn’t have to pay for worker’s compensation.
Finally, a third common reason for worker’s compensation claims being denied is there’s not enough medical documentation. If you were injured at work but didn’t seek medical care, it can be challenging to prove your injury requires time off and compensation. If you get injured at work, seek medical attention immediately from an authorized provider and keep good notes and records.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured At Work And Need To File For Worker’s Compensation?
If you’ve been injured at work and need to file for worker’s compensation, contact Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler immediately, as you need to report the injury to your employer within 30 days. We offer complimentary consultations to help you start your case off strong. We can help ensure your worker’s compensation claim is filed the first time correctly, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and advise you when a settlement is a good idea.