UNDERSTANDING WHY A WORKERS’ COMP CLAIM MAY RESULT IN REJECTION

If you have suffered an injury at work, you may be experiencing numerous hardships in life, physical and financial alike. When facing a potential loss of income, along with the extensive cost of medical expenses, you might find yourself in dire need of financial assistance.

You could choose to pursue relief through the workers’ compensation insurance system, which is in place to provide financial assistance following a work-related injury. However, the process can be complex, and should your claim result in rejection, you may be wondering how to proceed.

Appealing a decision for workers’ compensation

One of the first steps to take when seeking to appeal a decision is to gain an understanding of why it resulted in denial. This could help you prepare for the road ahead, and some of the most common circumstances in which a rejection might occur may include the following:

• Timing of report:  Concerning work-related injuries, timing is crucial, and you must report your injuries to your employer within a set period according the laws in your state. Failing to file a report within this period could cause your claim to result in denial.
• Timing of claim:  If you wish to pursue compensation, you must also file a claim within a set period. While this time frame could be longer than that allowed for reporting an injury, filing your claim within this period is crucial.
• Dispute by employer:  In some cases, an employer may dispute a workers’ compensation claim. This may happen in situations where an employer believes an injury did not occur at work or was the result of prohibited actions.
• Medical treatment:  To pursue benefits through workers’ compensation, you must obtain medical attention and treatment for your injuries and provide documentation of each, or your claim could be denied.

Each state also has laws on what types of injuries are compensable, and seeking guidance from someone knowledgeable in South Carolina state workers’ compensation laws could be in your best interests.

Seeking guidance

Appealing a decision for compensation can be a stressful and intimidating process, but you don’t necessarily have to go through it alone. You could speak with someone with extensive experience in such intricate matters for some much-needed guidance on how to proceed. By obtaining advice before entering the appeals process, you could become better prepared to pursue the compensation you need, and deserve through the necessary channels.