When you got hurt at work, you were frustrated. You always followed the rules, but a new worker made a mistake that resulted in an accident. Now, you’re faced with something even worse: the denial of your workers’ compensation claim.
As someone who has been hurt on the job, it is your right to seek workers’ compensation. Having that compensation denied is unexpected, but you do have the right to appeal.
What should you do if your workers’ compensation claim is denied?
If your claim is denied, the first thing to do is to find out why. If you didn’t report your injury in time, didn’t file the claim soon enough or didn’t provide enough evidence, these are all things you can address. For example, if your employer failed to file the claim before the deadline despite being informed, you may have other ways that you could seek compensation. Similarly, if there was not enough evidence, you can put together more information about your injuries and how the accident occurred, so that the workers’ compensation insurance company can make a decision on your claim.
Normally, you’ll have 30 days from the date when the letter of denial is received to respond and make an appeal. Before you do, talk to your employer. If there is anything that they are disputing, you can potentially talk it out. If the denial is not a result of their actions, you can still appeal with the help of your attorney. Putting together a solid claim will help the company make a decision in your favor.
