Workers’ compensation claims can be complicated and challenging to manage without familiarity with filing documents and the legal process. If you’re injured at work, you need to be able to focus on recovery instead of fighting to have your injuries accepted and medical expenses covered. Some workers are involved in serious accidents that can leave them with permanent disabilities and chronic pain. Workers trying to recover from serious workplace injuries don’t have time to fight with insurance providers and workers’ compensation case managers to prove they deserve coverage. At McHargue & Jones, LLC, our attorneys have many years of experience helping employees fight for compensation after a covered workplace injury. A handful of common mistakes cause most workers’ compensation denials. We’ve compiled a list of the most common errors below to help employees avoid potential setbacks.
6 Common Complications Found in Workers' Compensation Claim Denials
Filing a workers’ compensation claim is complicated because of the requirements and paperwork. Most errors can be isolated to basic filing errors, missing information, or failure to meet deadlines.
If you or someone you love is beginning the workers’ compensation process, be careful to avoid the following errors and complications:
- Failure to Meet Reporting Deadline: Reporting your claim is essential to starting a compensation request. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be taken for medical treatment before you can report your injury to your employer. However, once you’ve received medical treatment for your injuries, the next step is to report your injury to your employer. The standard filing requirement is 30 days from the date of the incident, and you should submit a written notification and save a copy for your files.
- Irregular or Incorrect Injury Report: Filing your report as soon as possible can help ensure you remember the details of your injuries and the accident. If you can’t provide details of your accident, it will be difficult for your claim to be reviewed.
- Preexisting Conditions: While a workplace injury can exacerbate a preexisting condition, you will need medical records to cover your history, showing how working conditions aggravated your injury or condition.
- Injuries Outside the Workplace: While some jobs require out-of-office work, most injuries happen on-site. When a workers’ compensation claim is filed outside of the office, employees must prove they were working at the time of their injury.
- Incomplete Medical Reports: Medical records and doctor recommendations are important to a workers’ compensation claim. As the most vital piece of evidence in your case, the details and accuracy of your medical record and reports from your physician are vital to the success of your claim.
- Claim Refuted by Employer: An employer can deny a workers’ compensation case, but they must have a reason. If an employee is being pressured not to file a claim or is experiencing discrimination of any kind, contact an attorney immediately. It’s illegal to discriminate against employees in the workplace or intimidate them to prevent workers’ compensation claims.
You Can Trust the Car Crash Attorneys at McHargue & Jones, LLC
At McHargue & Jones, LLC, we can handle your compensation claim from beginning to end. Contact our attorneys today to schedule a consultation, and we can start working on your case immediately. We have a long history of helping employees injured in workplace accidents fight for compensation to help them heal from their injuries. Our legal team is well-versed in Illinois law and the compensation negligence system. We can help you fight for fair compensation in your case. Call today at (312) 739-0000 to schedule a consultation.