When you are injured while working, you can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer’s insurance company should compensate you for your injury. However, this is not always the case. 131,734 work-related accidents were reported in 2021 in New Jersey, but the chances are not all ended in compensation, or at least a fair one.
This post highlights why insurance companies deny workers’ compensation claims:
Lack of enough evidence
You need to prove your injury is work-related to get workers’ compensation benefits. Thus, you should report sooner, take pictures of the injuries and accident scene and get statements from witnesses. Failure to do these may lead to a denial of your claim as the insurance company may argue the injury is not work-related.
Missed deadline
In addition to establishing an injury as work-related, reporting sooner can protect you from missing deadlines. The insurer may have a period within which you should notify the employer of the injury in writing. Further, you have a statute of limitations to consider. In New Jersey, you can file a formal claim petition within two years of the date of the injury or last payment of compensation.
Unfair denial
In some instances, you may follow all rules, but the insurance company still denies your claim. Many employees have reported cases of unfair denials. Your employer’s insurer may not want to pay you the amount you deserve since their business will experience a loss. Nonetheless, they should give you just compensation to cover all your damages.
A work-related injury can significantly affect your life and ability to work. Thus, your claim being denied can be devastating. If this is your case, you may need to get legal guidance to protect your rights.