If you work in Hollywood or any Florida community, you are generally covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This is paid for by your employer and helps you pay the bills if you’re ever injured at work or suffer an occupational illness.
Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
At Flaxman Law Group, our family-based legal team has worked with many injured workers who have had their legitimate claims denied. Our goal in these situations is to get you the benefits you deserve, as quickly as possible, so you can work on healing from your injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident anywhere in South Florida, contact Flaxman Law Group before filing your claim. We can help you file a strong claim and understand your options. Or, if you’ve already filed and your claim has been denied, you can contact Flaxman Law Group for a consultation with a Hollywood car accident claims attorney.
Common Reasons Workers’ Compensation Claims Are Denied in Florida
Every workplace injury is different, and when you apply for workers’ compensation benefits, there are many reasons why your claim may be denied:
- You’re not covered. A small number of employees are exempt from workers’ compensation coverage. In addition, some employers do not carry coverage for their employees, even when required to do so by Florida laws.
- An insurer or employer claims your injury or illness isn’t work-related. This is a common reason for denial. An employer or their insurance company may claim that your injury happened while you weren’t engaged in work duties, for example, or may claim that your occupational illness was caused by factors outside of work.
- You are accused of fraud. This is a less common reason for denial, but it does happen. Some employees are accused of exaggerating or even making up an illness or injury.
- You file late. It’s important to file as soon as you can, to strengthen your claim. If you wait longer than 30 days, your claim could be denied.
- There are mistakes and discrepancies in the documentation. If you don’t provide enough medical information and records or if there are key differences between the medical reports and what you report in your claim, your workers’ comp claim could be denied.
- You delayed medical attention. If you didn’t get medical attention immediately after the injury, the insurance company or employer may deny the claim, alleging that the injury wasn’t serious. This is one reason why you should never “tough out” a work injury. Always get checked out so a medical professional can determine the severity of your injury.
- There was a disqualifying behavior. If an injury occurred while an employee was drinking alcohol, taking drugs, engaging in horseplay, or there was another disqualifying reason, the claim will be denied.
Dealing with a Workers’ Compensation Claim Denial in Florida
The best way to deal with a denial of your workers’ compensation claim is to prevent it entirely. If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident or have been diagnosed with a cancer or other illness that is work-related, you can contact Flaxman Law Group for a consultation with an attorney. We can review ways we can make your application for benefits as strong as possible.
And if you have already gotten a letter indicating that your application has been denied, it’s not too late. You still have options. You may be able to appeal the decision, for example, and address the objections. You can submit additional information and documentation, for example.
However, this process can be complex. You’ll need to file a Petition for Benefits and present your case before an administrative judge. To give yourself the best chance of success, you might want to work with a Hollywood worker injury claims attorney. Your attorney can handle the appeals process or can find other solutions. For example, if you have been misclassified by your employer and have been denied benefits or if your employer or their insurer have acted in bad faith, your attorney can tell you whether you have another option.
So, if you’ve been injured on the job or have been diagnosed with an occupational illness, contact Flaxman Law Group to learn how to get the benefits you deserve. You can reach us by calling 866-352-9626 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with Hollywood worker injury claim lawyer.