Being injured on the job happens more often than anyone would like it to. To add insult to injury, there is a chance that you can be denied your workers’ compensation benefits.
Five of the most common reasons you can be denied for benefits are as follows:
1. Not reporting the injury immediately
Generally, you need to report any sort of illness or injury to your employer (preferably in writing) as soon as possible. Failure to do so makes it easier to prove that your injury or illness could be from another source than your job.
2. Not going to a company doctor
Chance are you’ll need to see a preferred physician of your employer’s insurance company to receive workers’ comp benefits. Seeing your own doctor could cost you the benefits you deserve.
3. Receiving an injury at work unrelated to your job
Just because you’re injured at work doesn’t automatically qualify you for workers’ compensation benefits. For instance, if your job is to drive a forklift but you are injured by any event not involving a forklift (for example, you burn yourself on spilt hot coffee), your workers’ comp benefits may be denied.
4. Not communicating with your physician
It is vitally important that you tell your physician everything that’s going on in relation to your injury—even if you think something is unimportant or if you’re worried about getting back to work. Failure to disclose the full extent of your injuries could cause your recovery to take even longer. Moreover, if you fail to disclose an injury the first time, workers’ comp may not cover it once you finally admit the pain.
5. Pre-existing conditions
Workers’ comp rarely pays for an injury that you had before you began your employment. You shouldn’t expect to see much of a payout, if any at all.
Learn more about workplace injuries and pre-existing conditions.
