There are many ways one can get hurt or acquire a disease in the workplace. Employers are required to provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees. However, the process is not easy. There are many reasons why the Workers’ Compensation Board may deny your claim.
However, do not be disheartened as a denied claim does not mean all hope is gone. A workers’ compensation lawyer in Virginia can help you explore your options when your claims get denied. But for that, it is essential to understand why that happened in the first place.
Why Was Your Compensation Claim Denied?
Believe it or not, your insurance company’s best interest lies in not giving you money. So, they will look for every possible reason to make that happen. Therefore, even the tiniest errors can cause a delay or rejection in getting your compensation.
- State laws determine the time limit within which you need to file your claim after an injury. If you miss the deadlines, your claim is likely to get rejected. However, you may not be penalized if you immediately report your damage to your employer after the accident.
- Your employer may claim that your injury happened outside of work. Therefore, you will need to gather evidence to support your statement if your employer does not help you.
- If your injury is not considered “compensable” by the law, you won’t be paid.
- You provided insufficient evidence.
- You did not seek medical attention.
- You filed your claim after leaving your job.
- You filled out the paperwork incorrectly.
- Your blood test shows you were under alcohol or drug influence at the time of the accident.
What To Do When Your Claims Get Denied
You will receive a letter from the Workers’ Compensation Board or the insurance company if your claim gets denied. Look closely at the letter and read it word by word to understand the reason behind the rejection. If it happened due to some mistake in your paperwork, you could ask them if you can clear it up. If this does not work, you will most probably have to appeal the denial.
Appealing A Denied Compensation Claim
After you understand why your claim was denied, you can request an appeal. The denial letter should contain a deadline for filing the appeal. You will need to attend a hearing and bring proper documentation of your employment history and medical injuries to make sure it gets approved this time.
Before filing an appeal, make sure you understand the procedures of your state. Appealing a decision can be a complicated process and usually requires the expertise of a professional to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.