When you get hurt on the job, you should be able to count on your employer to take care of you. You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if it weren’t for your job. However, there are times when your employer may doubt the legitimacy of your claim. They have been burned so many times over the years that they’ve become suspicious of all workers compensation claims. If this is what’s going on, you need to talk to a Philadelphia workers comp lawyer. They can look to see why your claim was denied. If they get the feeling that your employer suspects fraud, they’ll step in right away and file an appeal.
As long as your workers compensation attorney in Philadelphia can prove you meet the criteria for workers compensation, you should be okay. These requirements include the following:
- Your accident took place on company property and on company time
- You weren’t drunk or high at the time of your accident
- You don’t have a history of filing other workers compensation claims
- You report the injury to management or Human Resources right away
- You aren’t working a second job while collecting workers comp benefits
- You agree to be treated by a state-approved workers comp doctor
- You participate in your treatment
Of course, this may seem like an insurmountable process. However, our workers compensation attorneys in Philadelphia have been handling these types of cases for years. They know what it takes to prove that your claim is valid. They’ll also take the steps necessary to ensure you get the compensation and benefits you deserve.
We offer all new clients a free consultation. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced Philadelphia workers comp lawyer right away. Once they reach out to your employer and their insurance carrier, they’ll start to take your claim more seriously.
A Few Bad Apples Have Made Employers Suspicious About Workers Compensation Claims
You may wonder why your employer doesn’t trust you. This is especially true if you’ve never had attendance or disciplinary issues. What you need to realize is that your employer’s denying your claim has very little to do with you. Instead, it has to do with the times when your employer has been taken advantage of in the past.
Your employer is going to look at the facts of your case. If they get a feeling that something isn’t right, they’re going to deny your claim. Some of the things your employer may look out for include the following:
- Your injury just happens to have taken place on Monday morning, after you’ve returned to work from a long weekend.
- Nobody saw your injury which means your employer will have to take your word for it.
- You have a habit of filing workers compensation claims at previous employers.
- Your injuries seem a bit exaggerated, especially based on the accident you suffered.
If your employer suspects any of these things, it’s in their best interest to deny your claim. This buys them more time to investigate your claim. However, it also gives you a chance to retain a seasoned Philadelphia workers comp lawyer. This should help level the playing field just a bit.
It’s Always Questionable When an Employee Suffers an Injury on a Monday
It shouldn’t surprise you that companies are suspicious of workplace accidents that just happen to take place on Mondays. All too often, employers and their insurance investigators learn that people get hurt on the weekend and try to blame it on their job. This means that not only will their medical bills be covered, but you’ll also get to sit home and get paid to do nothing. It’s a shame because a few bad apples can ruin the while bunch.
Employers Grow Suspicious When Nobody Witnessed the Workplace Accident
Another red flag for your employer is when an employee gets hurt on the job, but nobody saw it happened. While your position may require you to work by yourself much of the day. However, most people at least work near their coworkers. It can be hard for your employer and the insurance adjuster to believe that nobody saw or heard you get injured.
It’s Easy to Find Out if a Worker is Exaggerating Their Injuries
If your employer believes you are faking your injuries, they’ll want you to see their doctors right away. They want to have an unbiased physician evaluate you. Of course, state-approved workers comp doctors can hardly be seen as unbiased. However, your employer just wants to make sure your injuries are real. They also want to make sure they’re injuries that could’ve been caused by your work duties.
Insurance Companies Can Track Whether You’ve Filed Claims in the Past
One final thing that can make your employer and their insurance carrier suspicious is if you’ve filed other claims in the past. Whether you filed for workers compensation at your current job or previous employers, there is a record of it. If you seem like the kind of person who works at a company for a few months and then gets hurt all of a sudden, they may deny your claim.
Your Best Bet is to Hire a Philadelphia Workers Comp Lawyer
If you want the best chances of having your workers comp claim approved, you’ll call our office. You should let an experienced Philadelphia workers comp lawyer help you file your claim. This way, you’ll know it will be handled properly from the start. This also puts your employer on notice that you have hired a seasoned workers compensation attorney in Philadelphia. They won’t try to take advantage of you. They’ll also be more likely to approve your claim.
If your employer suspects that you’re faking your work-related injuries, they’re going to deny your claim. They’d rather put the burden of proving your claim is legitimate than pay out a potentially fraudulent claim. The good news is that your Philadelphia workers comp lawyer can help you do this. As long as they can show that you meet the basic criteria for workers compensation in Pennsylvania, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
We suggest you contact our office as soon as possible after your workplace accident. If your claim has already been denied, we can always help you file an appeal. Since we offer all new clients a free, initial consultation, you have nothing to lose.