Thousands of workers are injured annually while at the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one worker succumbed to workplace injuries every 99 minutes in 2019, while over 99,000 others retained non-fatal injuries.
Despite the prevalence of workplace injuries and the increasing number of workers compensation claims, only a few victims are usually compensated.
Some of these claims are denied not because the injuries and illnesses aren’t legit, but because of the mistakes made while or before filing the claim.
You may have a legit workers compensation claim, but if you make the following mistakes, your chances of compensation dwindle significantly:
Some employees are usually reluctant about reporting their injuries because they don’t want to ruin their relationship with their employers or because they can’t afford to stay home. Others assume the injuries aren’t that serious, and that they’ll go away with time.
Unfortunately, failing to report the incident immediately negatively impacts their shot at compensation.
Why? Workers compensation claims are subject to the statute of limitations.
For instance, in California, an injured employee is required to report a workplace accident in writing to their employer within 30 days, and file a claim within a year. In states like Colorado, one is required to do within four days to maintain full eligibility.
Similar to any other businesses, insurance companies are out here to reap as much profits possible. So, when a risk occurs, they’ll try to settle as soon as they can, with as little as possible.
They’ll take advantage of your lack of knowledge about workers compensation, and will convince you to take whatever they offer. This might seem like a good thing because all you want as an employee is to get over and done with it.
Unfortunately, the moment you accept the offer there’s no going back. That means if your injuries worsen, or if the resulting medical bill is higher than what you were offered, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
When you seek legal counsel, you’ll avoid making such a mistake. Your workers compensation attorney will also advise you on what to do, and what to avoid to avoid claim denial.
After an injury or illness at the workplace, one may be tempted to provide inaccurate information about the incident or falsify health records to get more compensation than they deserve.
For instance, an employee who suffered a dislocated arm while working may falsify their records to show they broke their arm so they can claim more benefits.
This is called workers compensation fraud, and may result in not only your claim being denied, but also jail time.
You may report your injuries immediately and get treatment for them, but if you don’t follow your doctor’s orders, you risk your claim being denied.
Your employer’s insurance company may argue you are intentionally prolonging your pain, or worsening your condition so you can claim more benefits.
Skipping doctor’s appointments, not taking your medications, and doing things you’ve been restricted are a few examples of things that jeopardize your claim.
Worker’s compensation is a murky field. A slight mistake might be the thin line between successful claim compensation, and denial.
Ensure you get the best worker’s compensation attorney to walk with you. Luckily you don’t have to look further because our team is waiting to hear from you. Drop us a line to schedule an obligation free consultation.
blogs
Five Safety Products for Motorcycle Riders
Approximately ten percent of motor vehicle deaths in the United States can be attributed to motorcycleaccidents. Safe riding and defensive driving are important to all motor vehicle operations, of course, but making sure you’re stocked up on the right equipment to make your ride as safe as possible is critical to avoiding accidents or, in […]
Looking Out for Motorcycles
In 2019, the number of deaths caused by motorcycles was found to be 29 times that of deaths caused by cars. Motorcycles can go very fast, they have no sides to protect the rider, they are more difficult to see on the road and they do not perform well in bad weather. While it is […]
Winter Driving Safety Tips
Having your winter tires installed on your car and packing a windshield scraper is a good start to being prepared to drive in the winter, but as the cold weather gets harsher, the driving conditions get worse. With this comes the tendency for some people to overcorrect or not know how to stop properly, or […]
Mold and LA Renters — Know Your Rights
You may have heard of “mold growth” in passing. Depending on the situation, the story you heard may have been about a simple annoyance, a house deal that fell through, or a sneezing fit. However, there are a lot worse stories than that out there; mold can cause severe allergies, incapacitation, and even worse health […]
Personal Injury – Why You Should Never Wait
We’ve all been told to “walk it off” before. Whether it’s for a pain, injury or just not feeling well, a lot of people will be there to tell you it’s probably nothing. And while it is important to keep a positive mindset, you should also pay attention to your body and not push yourself […]
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in the United States
Whether due to size, or footprint of the motorcycle, or sheer stability, or a combination of these factors, motorcycles are much more likely to be involved in an accident than other automobiles. Certainly, in some cases, this is a visibility issue as well, with many drivers of other automobiles not looking in their blind spots […]
5 Things to Avoid After a Car Accident in California
After an auto accident in California, you’ll get all sorts of advice on what to do next. Some people will advise you to contact the police, exchange driver information, talk witnesses into giving their statement, call 911, and many other tips. While they’re all looking out for you, rarely does anyone tell you what not […]
5 Things Cyclists Should Do After a Bike Accident in California
Biking, especially on a highway, is a fun and an adrenaline-filled way to keep fit and explore what California has to offer. At the same time, it’s also a dangerous activity as the chances of being rear-ended by a motorist in California are pretty high. Unfortunately, when a bicycle accident happens, most cyclists often have […]
Five Pedestrian Accident Facts
Some numbers have Arizona as the most dangerous state in the U.S. when it comes to pedestrians. They are in the most danger by simply being outnumbered, which means accidents are likely to rise as the number of automobiles on the road continues to rise. It is important for you to not only understand how […]
Five Products for Increased Automobile Safety
It should be no surprise that in Arizona and California, with the increasing dependence on cars, automobile accidents are increasingly likely. In the event of an accident, you want to have as many bases covered as possible – from minor repairs you can do yourself to getting yourself out of harm’s way as quickly and […]
contact form
