A workers’ compensation denial could put you in a bind

An on-the-job injury could cause you to seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity, you may find that you’re unable to immediately return to work.

If you suffer an injury at work, you should take the following actions:

• Administer first aid
• Call 911 if you require transportation to a hospital
• Report the accident to your employer

It’s important for your employer to understand that you were injured at work, as this makes it easier to receive workers’ compensation benefits in the future.

A workers’ compensation denial could put you in a financial bind, as you may have no other way of earning money while you’re out of work. Here are some of the common reasons for a denial:

• You did not report the injury in time: You should do whatever it takes to report the injury to your supervisor and/or HR department the day it happens.
• You did not file a claim in time: You don’t have an endless amount of time to file a workers’ compensation claim, so act as quickly as possible.
• Your employer disputes your claim: The most common reason for this is an employer stating that you were not injured at work.
• You did not receive medical treatment: Not only should you receive immediate treatment to improve your chance of a full recovery, but it’s also important in regard to receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
• Insufficient evidence that the injury occurred at work: You may need to work closely with your medical team to prove that you suffered the injury on the job.

As a general rule of thumb, you should report the injury and file a workers’ compensation claim as quickly as possible. While it’s okay to stick with a uniform time limit of 30 days, the sooner you take action the better chance you have of avoiding complications.

If you receive a workers’ compensation denial letter, don’t give up just yet. Read the letter from beginning to end to learn more about the appeals process. Once you have a clear idea of the process and your legal rights, you can take action with the idea of fighting to have the original decision overturned.

For more information on all things related to workers’ compensation, visit our website and browse our past blog posts. Or contact a Charlotte work injury lawyer for help today.