Part of what stops many people from filing a workers’ compensation claim is the fear of denial. However, denial is far from the worst outcome. In the state of California, employees can appeal a denial of a claim by requesting a hearing in front of your local Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board judge.
The hearing is an informal trial where the judge will listen to both sides of the case and make a decision on whether the insurance company must accept your workers’ comp claim.
Insurance companies deny claims for many reasons. Some companies routinely deny initial workers’ compensation claims, hoping the employee will drop the issue rather than pursue an appeal. This practice isn’t ethical, but it is done to save the company money. However, there are some legitimate reasons a company might deny your claim, including the following:
- Your injury was not work-related
- Your injury was caused by working for another company
- You do not need medical treatment to recover from your injury
- You do not need time off work because of your injury
If a company has denied your claim and your injury was significant, you should talk to one of our skilled Santa Ana workers’ compensation attorneys as soon as possible. Your employer’s insurance should cover the cost of your medical bills, reimbursement, time off work, or even a cash award for a permanent impairment that hurts your ability to compete in the job market. Our firm is dedicated to representing injured workers across Southern California. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (714) 909-2609 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case review.