My name is Arlene, and two years ago, I was involved in a car accident that wasn't my fault. I had some injuries that required a hospital stay, and I was unable to return to work for several weeks. I didn't know how I was going to pay my bills, and it was very stressful for me. My friend told me that I needed to hire an accident and personal injury attorney so I could recover my lost wages and medical costs. I was so glad that I hired the attorney, and my stress level immediately went down. Through the attorney, I was able to get a settlement, and I was no longer in financial trouble. I am writing this blog to let everyone know the importance of hiring an attorney after an accident. It's my wish that this blog will help others who are in similar situations.
Mattie Bennett
If you are injured on the job site, one of the last things you want to happen is for your employer to contest the injury on your insurance claim. But sometimes, employees are put in the position of battling an employer for insurance money. Here is a guide to understanding contested workers' compensation claims.
How Can They Contest an Injury?
Your employer can speak out against an injury in several ways. First, they might claim that the injury was not work related. If you were on the property without permission and after hours, for instance, the injury might fall outside the realm of workers' compensation coverage. Your employer can also challenge the severity of your injury by saying that you don't need extended coverage and medical benefits. The employer could also say that you were intoxicated when the injury occurred, which would place the liability back onto you. Finally, in extreme cases, your employer might claim that you're not really injured at all and that you're committing insurance fraud.
What Do They Get from Contesting?
While the majority of your payouts will be paid by your workers' compensation insurance company, an employer has a stake in denying the claim because they may want to keep their insurance premiums low. Especially if they believe that you will be looking for new work after your injury heals, they might be looking to protect their insurance rates by disputing your workplace injury.
How Do I Fight It?
Hiring a workers' compensation lawyer is the first thing to do if you believe that your claim will be contested. They can help you to collect the correct medical documentation to ensure that your claims are perceived seriously. They will also help you to pull information out of your employer, since some employer cooperation is necessary in a workers' compensation claim. They can advise you on the best ways to support your claim with your personal actions too; for instance, your lawyer might ask you to avoid disclosing certain types of information about your injury and avoid revealing certain information about your life on social media.
What Should I Do During and After the Claim?
If you have an employer that contests your insurance claim, you may be eager to look for new work. Be sure that you comply with the terms of your insurance policy until a decision is met on your case. Maintaining cooperation with your insurer and employer will help to ensure none of the blame can be placed back on you.