Learn why employers may not want you to file a claim
On the surface, the workers’ compensation process may seem pretty straightforward: if you are hurt, you just file a claim and you’ll receive reimbursement for your medical bills plus benefits if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. The reality is, the process can be complicated and there is a lot that your employer can potentially do to make it even harder on you.
Why would an employer want to make it hard to file for workers’ comp? There are two main reasons:
Cost of Premiums
The cost that an employer pays for workers’ compensation insurance is determined by a variety of factors, including the number of claims that are filed and the value of those claims. So, an employer that really wants to keep their premiums low may not be happy to see yet another workers’ comp claim coming. They may also be leery of claims that are particularly expensive.
Employer Bias
In some cases, employers—or specific individuals like managers and supervisors—may have a bias against a claim based on the type of injury or even the individual who has been hurt. This is most likely to happen with “invisible” injuries and cumulative trauma injuries. For example, if an employee complains of sudden back pain after bending over to lift a box, exactly how they got hurt may not be apparent to an onlooker. It could look like they are faking their pain. The manager might even encourage the employee to “work through the pain” if they do not take the situation seriously.
The same type of thing can happen with a cumulative injury such as carpal tunnel. A manager might not take the complaint seriously since many of the symptoms of carpal tunnel, such as pain, numbness, and tingling, cannot be objectively verified with x-rays of other imaging technology.
It is important to bear in mind that just because an injury is difficult to diagnose does not mean it is unreal or undeserving of workers’ compensation benefits. You do not want to ignore your symptoms or try to work through the pain, because if you do not report your injury as soon as you become aware of it, this could undermine your claim and even result in the denial of your benefits.
Don’t Give Up on Your Claim
If your employer is being less than supportive of your workers’ compensation claim, it’s time to get advice from a professional that will take your injury seriously. By hiring a workers’ compensation attorney to help with your claim, you can make sure that your case is handled appropriately from start to finish. At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we have ample experience with workers’ comp cases and we will give you the best possible chance of having your claim approved quickly with appropriate benefits.
To learn more, contact us at 800-333-0000 now.
