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4 reasons for workers’ comp denial and what to do about it

On Behalf of | Mar 10, 2017 | Firm News, Workers' Compensation |

In theory, workers’ compensation is supposed to kick in to help you cover the cost of injuries or illnesses sustained on the job. It’s supposed to be a failsafe that brings peace of mind for both workers and employers, but sometimes the system doesn’t work efficiently and your claim can be denied for many reasons. Some of those denial reasons have very little to do with your injury.

One reason for denial is that the injury wasn’t reported in a timely manner. Each state has laws governing when you have to report an injury to your supervisor if it was work related. If you put it off too long because you don’t think it was a big deal or are worried about reporting it for another reason, then you could invalidate any claim you might have for compensation. Time also applies to your claim, and another common reason for denial is that the claim itself wasn’t filed within state timelines.

Sometimes, an injury that occurs in the workplace simply isn’t covered under workers’ compensation. It might be that you can’t prove the injury was related to work or that you were injured in the workplace, but at the time you were performing an activity that had nothing to do with work. If you have been denied for such a reason but believe that your injury was related to your job, then working with an experienced lawyer might improve your chances at a successful appeal.

Finally, claims might be denied because your employer disputes your claim. Again, they might say that you weren’t engaging in work-related activities at the time of your injury. They could also claim that you aren’t injured or haven’t suffered the damages that you claim. Whatever the reason for your denial, it’s not the end of the road for your workers’ comp claim. Our firm can help you appeal and fight for your rights under a workers’ compensation policy.