Reasons Why Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Might be Denied

Reasons Why Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Might be Denied

By Pyle Law, Reviewed by E. Thomas Pyle July 20 2020 1:21 pm

If you’ve been injured on the job, you might be relying on workers’ compensation to help you make it through this difficult time. Medical expenses and lost wages can add up quickly and waiting for workers’ compensation to come through is stressful enough, but if your workers’ compensation claim is denied, it makes matters that much more difficult. To help ensure that you receive the workers’ compensation to which you are entitled, work closely with an experienced Kansas workers’ compensation attorney.

Most Common Reasons for Denial

Workers’ compensation insurance is in place for a reason – to provide injured employees with the financial help they need while limiting employers’ liability. It’s important to remember, however, that the workers’ compensation provider is an insurance company that is motivated by large profits and may go to considerable lengths to diminish settlement offers and even to deny claims outright. The most common reasons for denial include:

1. You Are Alleged to Have Been Injured Somewhere Other than Your Job – For workers’ compensation benefits to apply, your injuries must have been sustained in the course of your job performance. There is, however, some room for interpretation here. If you weren’t on the job site but were attending to a work assignment, for example, you should have a viable claim. Again, both your employer and the workers’ compensation provider may be invested in proving you weren’t injured on the job – regardless of the facts. 
2. You Failed to Notify Your Employer of Your Injury in a Timely Manner – Workers’ compensation has specific time limits built-in, and one is that you must alert your employer to your injury as soon as you are able to do so or within a specific time required by law. This notification serves several important purposes that include informing your employer that it’s time to instigate an accident investigation (important for your claim’s success) and verifying that you were, indeed, hurt on the job.
3. You Failed to Receive Medical Treatment – If you sustained a significant injury on the job, you’ll need the medical records to back up your claim – and you need medical care to help ensure you reach your fullest recovery. Further, serious injuries are sometimes slow to present with symptoms, allowing them time to become both more serious and more difficult to treat. Seeking medical treatment earlier rather than later is always in your best interest. 
4. Failing to File Your Workers’ Compensation Papers on Time – Again, workers’ compensation has set timelines in place, and if you fail to meet them, it can jeopardize your ability to obtain compensation.

All of these reasons – and more – can negatively affect your claim. You’re obviously not an expert on workers’ compensation claims, and you shouldn’t have to be. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will help ensure that your case is as solid as possible moving forward.    

Reach Out to an Experienced Kansas Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

The dedicated workers’ compensation attorney at Pyle Law in Kansas can help – whether your claim has already been denied, you’re just beginning the workers’ compensation process, or you are anywhere in between. Our legal team is on your side – not on the insurance company’s – so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 620-374-9299 for more information today.