Workers’ compensation is supposed to help you return to a sense of normalcy after an injury or accident. An unfortunate fact of the matter is that claims for compensation can be denied. Getting denied can be frustrating and bewildering. While your workers’ compensation attorney in Salem, Oregon, can help you challenge the decision, it is vital that you understand the factors that may have resulted in the situation in the first place.
- Workers’ compensation is generally furnished through an insurance company, which also processes the claims. A few of the leading reasons why claims are denied is because:
- The Injury Was Unwitnessed – If the insurer cannot verify that you were injured on the job site, they are already skeptical of the claim. Should you get hurt on the job and no one is around, be sure to report the incident to your coworkers and supervisor as soon as possible.
- The Injury Was Not a Reported Injury – Insurers do not like cases that go unreported until long after the incident has occurred – even if you waited until the following morning to take action.
- Initial Medical Records Show Illegal Substances in the Claimant’s System – Having drugs or alcohol in your system at the time of your post-accident medical assessment is a surefire way to get a claim denied. Drugs in the system imply the accident was caused more by individual error than an inherent danger at the worksite. Insurers seldom voluntarily cover these situations.
While getting a denied claim can be devastating, that does not mean you are out of options. By working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, it is possible to steer your case towards the best possible outcome.
