If you’ve been injured at work, then you know you’re entitled to workers’ compensation. However, you still have to go through the claims process and have your claim approved to receive your necessary benefits. Here are some helpful tips you should be following to ensure that your workers’ compensation claim doesn’t get denied.
Report Your Injury Right Away
One of the biggest red flags for denying workers compensation is not reporting the injury immediately after it happened. Most workers compensation agents take your lack of quick reporting as an indication that you weren’t really injured that bad. In addition, some states have a maximum time period for reporting injuries for them to be covered. In most states, this is within seven days of the injury occurring.
Tell the Exact Same Story to Everyone
If your injury at work happened without anyone else around, it can be a red flag that can produce a denial for a workers’ compensation claim. As your personal injury lawyer will tell you, it’s important to report the injury right away to your superiors and co-workers. When you do so, be sure to give them all the same recollection of the events leading up to the injury so that your story stays consistent throughout the claims process. Any recorded footage can aid in helping to validate and solidify your story.
Give a Recorded Statement
After your injury occurs, the workers’ compensation insurance company will want to have a recorded statement from you about how the injury occurred. While it’s highly advisable to speak with your attorney and have them present during the recorded statement, in most cases, it’s best to give one. If you deny doing so, it’s another red flag for the insurer and they may deny your request for benefits.
Sign Medical Authorization Forms
You’ll also be asked to sign a release for your medical forms from the insurer. This release allows the insurer to contact your health care provider directly instead of having to go through you each time. It’s advisable to speak with your attorney before signing this document. However, if you deny doing so, this could put up another red flag that could cause a denial of your workers’ compensation claim.
Getting denied for a workers’ compensation claim is nothing new. It happens to individuals who were honestly injured at work very often. To avoid being one of these denied claims, it’s best to follow the information guide above. If you have any questions regarding the claims process, your lawyer will be the best person to go to.
Author information: Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.
