What Problems Could Prevent Me from Getting Worker’s Compensation Coverage?
Workers’ compensation is essential for an injured worker who wants to remain financially independent and doesn’t want to burden his friends or relatives. Sadly, in some cases, workers’ compensation coverage can be denied. Here are some problems that could prevent you from getting workers’ compensation coverage. Have a look and be careful about these things if you are ever involved in a workplace accident or injury.
- Failure to Report the Incident
Sometimes, a person gets hurt on the job, ignores it, and keeps going about their business, only to later realize that the injury was more severe than they thought. At such a time, it becomes difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the injury or accident. So, you might not have an incident report, making it difficult to get workers’ compensation coverage.
How to Avoid it?
A smart way to avoid this is to report every incident, no matter how minor it seems, and ensure that your supervisor files an incident report as soon as possible.
- Getting Caught by a Private Investigator
Sometimes, insurance companies hire a private investigator to know whether you are following your physician’s advice. If the investigator catches you doing something your physician asked you not to do, like lifting heavy boxes, they might make your benefits go away by proving that your injury is not as severe as you claim.
How to Avoid it?
A smart way out of this is not to do anything your physician has asked you to avoid, even when you are alone or at home. The investigator might be watching you anytime and anywhere.
- Quitting Your Job While Still Receiving Benefits
You cannot quit your job when you are receiving benefits. You will lose the benefits if you take another job during the convalescence. If you quit, your employer or the insurance company will prove that you held on to the job to collect workers’ compensation benefits.
How to Avoid it?
A smart way to avoid it is to not look for another job until you completely recover. Also, try to return to the same job to avoid being termed a liar who only used the company to get workers’ compensation benefits.
- You Have Turned Down Light Duty
Sometimes, an employer might offer light duty to injured employees. It shows that your employer wants you to continue working for them. If you refuse the arrangement without proper reason, the company might stop your worker’s compensation benefits.
How to Avoid it?
A smart way to avoid this situation is to accept light duty and then share your limitations with your employer to help them understand what you can and cannot do.
- You Performed Unexpectedly on the Functional Capacity Exam
The functional capacity exam is meant to show what a person can do despite their injuries. If you perform unexpectedly on this exam, like you self-limit your moments or show capabilities that allow you to return to work, you might lose your worker’s compensation benefits.
How to Avoid it?
A smart way to avoid this situation is to be honest with your doctor and only do with what you are comfortable. Don’t try to overstretch yourself, or you might hamper your recovery.
Talk to an Expert
Many other reasons could prevent you from getting workers’ compensation. You can trust the Laura M. Wilson & Associates Inc. team to know more about those. We help you return to work more confidently and only after fully recovering from an accident, trauma, crisis, or injury. We also help you get the best legal advice or a legal course of action.
We provide a broad array of services such as SJDB Service, RTWSP Service, Expert Witness, Vocational Evaluation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Services, and Transferable Skills Analysis.
Our vocational rehabilitation counselors will decide which services are right for you and offer a solution that helps you return to work and retain your job if you want to. To book a one-on-one session with one of our experts, book an appointment here or call us toll-free at (800) 531-5608. Our team of experts will devote time to listening to your case and provide you with a customized solution. Get in touch today!
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