Contrary to what many people believe, there are valid reasons why an employer could deny your workers compensation. As frustrating as it may be, it happens more often than you might think. While it’s always important to have good workers compensation lawyers advising you, you should also be aware of these five common reasons why workers compensation gets denied.
Injury happens away from work
One of the most common reasons that workers compensation gets denied is if an injury happens outside of the workplace. Many employees may use this in an attempt to commit fraud, but employers usually won’t have any of it. for an injury to be covered by workers comp, it must happen during work hours, and at a location where an employee was performing work-related duties.
Traveling to or from work
While this may seem like a justifiable reason to a workers compensation claim, it is unfortunately not. Injuries of this nature can be covered under the condition that they are traveling and in the process of providing a benefit to their employer. For example, if an employee had to go to the store and purchase an item for the company, an injury during that trip would be covered by workers comp.
No medical justification
When an employee reaches their maximum medical improvement and is allowed to return to work, their workers comp usually ends. However, if a doctor has given them leave to return to work and they still want to take advantage of workers comp, there is no medical justification for their case. In cases like this, some employees may hire workers compensation attorneys, but the majority of these cases are lost.
Late notice
Every state requires that an injured employee gives their employer notice of their injury in a timely manner. This time period varies, but usually as soon as an employee is aware of an injury or illness, they are required to inform their employer. If an employee does not report their injury in a timely fashion to their employer, then workers comp can be denied.
No medical treatment
If an employee claims that they have suffered a work-related injury, but fails to provide any medical records or evidence of that injury, then workers comp can be denied. Medical treatment is required to document the cause and extent of the injury, otherwise no workers comp can be awarded.
If you, or someone you know is being denied workers comp, these five reasons may be why.