Essex Junction Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Workplace injuries are very serious. They incur high medical bills, and may cause you to miss work for some time. If you have been hurt at work, you deserve compensation for these losses. Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation system is not easy to navigate and the smallest mistake could result in a loss of benefits. Our Essex Junction workers’ compensation lawyer can ensure this does not happen so you obtain the full benefits you deserve.
Steps During the Workers’ Compensation Claim
There is a very clear process for obtaining workers’ compensation benefits in Vermont and the steps are as follows:
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as you are injured, or as soon as you realize you suffered a workplace injury.
- Ensure your employer has reported the injury to the Vermont Department of Labor, or make the report yourself.
- File your workers’ compensation claim within six months of suffering the injury.
- Confirm that the insurance company providing coverage has or will conduct an investigation into the accident within 21 days of being notified.
- The insurer must provide you with benefits or provide a written notice of denial within 30 days of receiving an invoice.
- A hearing may be scheduled if you were denied benefits.
- A lawyer can help you through the appeal process if appropriate.
Workers’ Compensation Denials
Employers try to fight back against workers’ compensation claims because each one can increase their monthly premiums. The insurance companies that provide coverage to them also try to fight back because they prioritize their profits over the health and safety of workers. Insurance companies give many reasons for denying claims but the most common of these include:
- You missed deadlines: If you did not report the injury to your employer immediately, or you did not file your workers’ compensation claim on time, your benefits will be put at risk. Even if you did meet all of your deadlines, the insurance company may argue that you did not.
- Your application is incomplete: If you did not fill out your application completely, or you do not submit the appropriate paperwork, the insurance company will use that to deny your claim.
- Your injury is not work-related: You need strong documentation, such as medical records, to prove that your injuries are work-related. Otherwise, the insurer will likely argue that they were sustained somewhere else, or that they are a pre-existing condition.
- Your injury was intentional: The insurance company may argue that you intentionally hurt yourself or, just as insulting, that you are not injured at all, even when these are not true.
- Intoxication: Employees are not eligible for workers’ compensation if they were intoxicated at the time of the accident. Your employer or the insurance company may make false claims about intoxication to deny you benefits.
Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Essex Junction Can Help After an Injury
At Sluka Law, PLC, our Essex Junction workers’ compensation lawyer is dedicated to helping injured workers and we will put our expertise to work for you, too. Call us today at 802-457-1000 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.
