Each year thousands upon thousands of people get injured at work. These injuries range from paper cuts and sprained ankles to paralysis and head trauma. Some of these people don’t need a worker’s comp lawyer. They are the lucky ones whose claims go through, and the insurance company quickly give them their due benefits.
This doesn’t happen for everyone. Some people struggle to get their claims heard or accepted for many different reasons. Often, a workers’ comp lawyer can help push a case through and turn your denial into an approval.
Things You Can Do To Avoid Denial
Although many denials occur for the simple reason that insurance companies want to see what they can get away with, some denials happen for very specific reasons regarding policies or laws.
Sometimes worker’s comp claims can look dubious based on the evidence or time they are submitted. Even if you can’t avoid the following mistakes, however, don’t despair. A worker’s comp lawyer at Tolbert Beadle may still be able to help you.
Submit Your Claim Immediately
Okay, so maybe you can’t submit a claim the second you fall, but you really should not procrastinate. The longer you wait to file a claim, the more suspicious insurance companies get.
They will question why you submitted the claim after already spending so much time injured, and they might accuse you of lying about your injury. Insurance companies like to think of themselves as judge, witness, and jury. Do not give them the opportunity to do so.
Do Not Claim Injuries Sustained Off the Job
If you hurt yourself at home or away from your place of work, then your employer will not reward you worker’s compensation. Trying something like this could scar your reputation, and insurance companies need very little to dismiss claims. If they see you once tried to claim worker’s comp for a cooking injury when you work in construction, they will feel justified in dismissing your claim the one time you do hurt yourself on the job.
You can claim injuries sustained away from your place of employment if you are acting within the capacity of your job. If you are hauling lumber from one construction site to another, for instance, you are still on the job even if you aren’t at a specific construction site. If you slip on the ice while running to the grocery store for the hamburger buns your manager had to 86, then you are also eligible for worker’s compensation.
Do Not Try to Claim Fully Healed Injuries
This sounds like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised at how many people attempt such claims. If your injuries were not serious enough to keep you out of work or if you work through them, then you will have no proof that they were ever sustained.
Talk to a doctor and address the problem when it occurs. This will avoid a lot of problems with the insurance company.
Contact a Worker’s Comp Lawyer
If you lost a claim due to claiming in one of the ways stated above, you still might be eligible for worker’s comp benefits. Every situation is unique, and our worker’s comp lawyer will work with you to determine whether you have a case. If you followed these guidelines and still received a denial, then please contact a worker’s comp lawyer immediately. The Tolbert Beadle law firm will fight for you.
