If a California worker suffers an on-the-job injury, it is critically important to seek immediate medical care. This is the best means for obtaining a full assessment of a worker’s condition. It is also a way to create written documentation of the incident, which is good to have on hand when navigating the workers’ compensation system, especially if an insurance company seeks to deny a claim.
Issues that raise the risk of claim denial
Not having any medical evidence of an injury is one of the most common reasons an insurance company will reject a workers’ comp claim. Other issues, such as a worker who was acting under the influence of alcohol or drugs when a workplace injury occurred or issues related to a preexisting condition also increase the chances that a claim will be denied. A worker who is not listed as an employee by statute (such as an independent contractor) might also run into problems with an insurance agency when filing a workers’ comp claim.
Detail matters a lot when processing workers’ comp paperwork
There is a lot of paperwork involved in a workers’ compensation claim. If a worker wants to avoid problems with insurance, it is imperative to be thorough when filling out forms. Certain details, such as the date and location of a workplace accident, as well as detailed information regarding the extent of the injuries suffered, should be included in a claim. Lack of detail may lead to denial of a claim.
What to do if insurance agency problems arise
In a perfect world, a worker who suffers injury would be able to file a workers’ comp claim and all would run smoothly during processing so that the worker would receive the maximum amount of benefits to which he or she were entitled. But many California workers have problems with insurance companies, and many claims get rejected after their initial filing. However, that should not deter a recovering worker because many claims wind up being approved upon appeal. It is helpful to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation law attorney if insurance complications or any other legal problems arise when processing an injury claim.