Employees may suffer unexpected injuries at work, leaving them unable to perform their job. The injuries may cause a short-term absence or a permanent disability. Among the many worries that the worker has after the accident would be ones surrounding financial pressures. When someone cannot work, they may not be able to make ends meet. Workers’ compensation exists to help people and families in this situation, but resulting claims could face denials.
Denied workers’ compensation claims
Several reasons exist why a workers’ comp claim ends up being denied, and some of them are valid. Someone hurt away from the job has no legitimate claim, for example. However, there are instances where the stated reason for the denial is wrong. Case in point, denying someone for a non-work-related injury that did happen on the job could be a case of wrongful denial.
Anyone denied a workers’ compensation claim must understand why the claim received a negative response. Reasons may range from lack of medical evidence to untimely reporting to outright claims the employee is not hurt. Upon learning the specific cause, the worker may take steps to challenge the denial if it lacks accuracy and merit.
Taking steps to deal with the denial
Although it can be enormously stressful to discover a workers’ compensation denial notice, it does not necessarily end the process. A worker may appeal the adverse decision. Filing the appeal on time and following all administrative steps properly could help the cause.
Anyone challenging a denial may need to present compelling evidence necessary to reverse the decision. An administrative law judge could review the evidence presented to support the appeal. Those unhappy with the judge’s decision have the option to file a Petition to Review.
Reversing a denial could result in receiving compensation owed. For those struggling financially, attempting to do so often becomes a high priority.
