If you suffered an injury on the job and are now unable to work because of it, there is no doubt you are hoping to file a successful claim for workers’ compensation. If the insurance company has denied your initial claim, there may be an opportunity for you to appeal, depending on the reason for the denial.
What are some common factors in a denial of workers’ comp?
Insurance companies and employers are often looking for reasons to deny a workers’ comp claim. Some of the most common reasons given for turning down a workers’ comp claim include:
Missed deadlines
Workers’ comp has strict deadlines, as follows:
- You must report the initial injury or illness to your employer within 30 days
- File your claim form within one year of the incident date
- California allows exceptions to these deadlines for coma, quarantine or other grievous injuries.
Filing after you leave your job
You must file a workers’ compensation claim while you are still employed. There are few exceptions.
Disputes over whether your injury is work-related
Providing evidence to support your assertion that the injury occurred at your workplace injury will help your appeal.
Can you appeal?
The letter you received that notified you of the denial may include information about how to appeal the decision; otherwise, you can consult the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board for more information.
Denial of workers’ compensation can be devastating to a family that is counting on receiving reimbursement. Reviewing the reason for the denial may reveal an opportunity for appeal.
