Reasons for workers’ compensation denial
Every day, Denver workers take risks in the course of their jobs. Construction workers, police officers, oil workers, firefighters and employees in manufacturing, health care and other businesses and industries risk their health in order to provide us with needed services and products.
Some worker injuries are inevitable, whether they take place in a high-risk road construction zone or a quiet office. Payscale.com recently noted some steps you can take to reduce the risk of experiencing a workers’ compensation denial.
One of the simplest things you can do to protect yourself after a workplace injury is to promptly notify your supervisor of the injury. Here in Colorado, you have four days to report the injury unless you’re “physically or mentally unable to do so,” the state website says.
Another too-common mistake injured workers make is to go to their own doctor after an injury, says Payscale.com. Instead, pick one of the two medical providers designated by your employer to treat work injuries.
Another problem: even though an injury happens at work, it might be unrelated to your job. Let’s say two workers are engaged in horseplay and one is injured. It is certainly possible that his injury will not be covered by workers’ comp.
One of the reasons workers’ compensation is sometimes denied is because the employer or the employer’s insurer (or both) decide that a serious injury is likely to be expensive. The worker might require extensive time away from the job, in addition to surgeries and costly care from specialists. So the denial might be about protecting the bottom line.
In those cases, a worker deserves full and fair compensation, including medical care and wage replacement — even if it hurts someone’s bottom line. An experienced Denver workers’ comp attorney helps you fight for the benefits you deserve.
