People get hurt in the workplace every day, in every industry. Workers’ compensation is meant to act as a safety net, so that you do not have to worry about lost wages and medical expenses after getting injured on the job. Typically, the process to receiving workers’ comp is lengthy: you are required to report the injury and submit a claim to your employer’s insurance. After reviewing, that company usually pays out compensation via a weekly check.

Sometimes, however, workers’ compensation claims are denied. Just like every other part of the process, understanding why your claim was denied and what you can do about it might feel confusing and convoluted. Here are a few common reasons why a workers’ compensation claim may be denied.

Failure to Report Injury

Time is of the essence when it comes to a workers’ compensation claim. The time window varies depending on where you live, but in the state of Missouri, you have 30 days to report your injury to your employer. If you fail to do so by the deadline, you could very easily be denied workers’ compensation.

Lack of Evidence

It is only inevitable that your employer and their insurance company will want to investigate the circumstances that you were injured. They will seek out pieces of evidence like eyewitness reports, video footage, and medical records. If you lack those things, it’s not impossible to be approved for workers’ compensation, but it will be significantly more difficult. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you gather your evidence and build a strong case for your claim.

Injury Happened Outside Work

Workers’ compensation is meant to cover fees and damages when an employee is injured in the workplace. In order to qualify for compensation, your injury must have happened while you are employed, and it must have happened because of the work you do. That can be difficult to define, especially if your injury forms over a long stretch of time, such as carpal tunnel.

Pre-Existing Conditions

It can be frustrating, but sometimes, employers will try to deny a claim on the basis that the injury is related to a pre-existing condition. However, if an incident at work causes your chronic condition to get worse, you are still entitled to compensation. Once again, having proper, experienced legal representation will help you navigate through the process and fight back against denials like this.

Find the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer You Need

At the Law Office of Chris Miller in Columbia, we have years of experience representing workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. Our lawyers have helped thousands of injured workers get the compensation they are entitled to, and we can do the same for you. Contact us to learn more!