It seems like every single day we’re getting calls from individuals who received a letter informing them that the insurance company is refusing to accept their claim for workers’ compensation. It certainly appears that insurance companies are making it harder for working Americans to collect the injury benefits they deserve, but why exactly is this the case? In today’s blog, we explore why it appears to be getting harder to earn an injury award, and we share the one thing you’ll want to do to greatly increase your likelihood of being awarded workers’ compensation.
Why Work Comp Denials Are Becoming More Common
There is no one reason why workers’ compensation claims are becoming harder to win for the average citizen, but there have been a few changes that have made it harder to have your claim accepted on the first go round. Some of those reasons include:
Complex Case Law – The workers’ compensation system provides financial protection for millions of workers in Minnesota, and because of this, the laws that govern the system are necessarily complex. While this serves to protect the interests of the system, it doesn’t always make it easy for injured workers to collect the compensation they rightfully deserve. Understanding the claims process and how to correctly file a claim can be a challenge for many, and when it’s not performed correctly, the insurance company can rightfully deny a claim.
Changing Regulations/Requirements – Not only are the rules and regulations that govern the workers’ compensation system complex, but it seems like they are constantly changing. Even when the new changes are designed to offer workers more protection, sifting through the changes and ensuring all parties clearly understand the new norms can be a time consuming and difficult to understand process. Applying yesterday’s knowledge to today’s new laws can lead to a claim denial.
Perceived Ability To Collect On Your Own – Prior to the internet, you would likely turn to a workers’ compensation lawyer to help if you were considering filing a claim. Nowadays you have a wealth of information at your fingertips thanks to Google, and while you can certainly learn more about a subject with a few minutes on the web, odds are you’re not going to be able to fully understand all the nuances to workers’ compensation law that are helpful when attempting to win a claim. The availability of information has made it easier for people to attempt to win a claim on their own, but if they do something incorrect or the insurance company spots an easy mark, you may find that your claim is denied or severely underpaid.
Borderline Deceptive Practices – Insurance companies didn’t become profit giants by accident, and they have a number of tactics in their arsenal to make it harder for claimants to get the compensation they deserve. Some of the tactics they may use to deny to underpay a claim include:
- Prolonging the process in hopes that the claimant will drop the case or agree to a lowball settlement.
- Claiming injuries arose from non-work activities.
- Denying claims until more information is provided.
- Requiring additional medical examinations from a provider of their choosing.
- Denying treatment or medical care because of a difference in opinion with one doctor’s determination.
Acting like they have the best interests of the injured employee at heart when speaking to the claimant on the phone, which can lead to the claimant sharing or believing information that could be detrimental to their own claim.
To greatly reduce your risk of becoming another statistic about denied workers’ compensation claims, your best bet is to connect with an injury law firm like Hey Workers. We can ensure that your claim is detailed, complete and airtight, and we’ll be sure no stone is unturned when it comes to your compensation package. Let us get you the compensation you deserve without all of the runaround from the insurance company.
For more information on how we can help you win your workers’ compensation case, or for assistance with a different aspect of your injury claim, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
