Spot The Workers' Compensation Red Flags And Take Action

If you have been hurt in a work-connected accident, you may be counting on the employer's workers' compensation insurance coverage to help you now. You may, however, encounter several problems with your claim. Read the red flags below that tell you when to call a workers' compensation lawyer for help.

Benefits Are Valuable

If your claim is approved by the workers' compensation insurer, you can take advantage of several great benefits:

• Paid medical treatment.
• A disability payment each week.
• A lump sum or structured settlement payment if found to be permanently disabled.

When Things Go Wrong

Watch out for the below problems with your claim. If you cannot resolve things by working directly with your employer, your insurer, or your state's workers' compensation board, speak to a workers' compensation lawyer as soon as possible.

1. Your employer refused or delayed filing your claim with the insurer. They may not understand how the workers' comp insurance system works or they do not want to deal with the insurer.
2. You cannot locate a doctor near you that provides approved care for your injury.
3. You have been found to have a permanent injury and you do not agree with that ruling.
4. Your employer is not supporting your claim. They have told the insurer that your injury did not happen at work, for example.
5. The workers' comp insurer has denied your claim because the injury is preexisting. That means a previous injury or medical condition is affecting you and has nothing to do with your current job or employer. However, this can be disproven.
6. Your employer is calling and visiting you while you are recuperating at home. They want to know when you will return to work and are alluding to giving your job to someone else.
7. Your workers' compensation doctor is not providing you with adequate care. You cannot get an appointment to be seen, they are not asking for the right diagnostic tests, and they don't seem to care about your injury.
8. The insurer has ruled you are permanently injured and no longer able to work at your old job. However, they are not offering you a good settlement.
9. The workers' compensation doctor is ordering you to return to work. However, you are in pain and still suffering from your work injury.

The above is only a sample of ways that your claim can go wrong. To learn how to deal with your workers' comp red flags, speak to a work injury lawyer near you.