If you are injured while performing your duties in your workplace in Massachusetts, you should file a workers’ compensation claim to recover compensation for expenses related to your injuries. Some of the benefits you can claim include:

• Paid time off
• Paid rehabilitation
• Paid medical treatments
• Temporary disability payments
• Permanent disability payments

You should seek medical attention immediately after the workplace accident. This will provide the necessary documentation and medical records to substantiate your compensation claim.

However, there are circumstances under which your workers’ compensation claim can be denied.  For this reason, hiring a Massachusetts workers' compensation lawyer is advisable when pursuing a claim. An attorney will help you gather the evidence and documents required to sustain the validity of your claim. They will also fight for your rights in court to ensure you get justice if your claim is denied.

Why Would Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Be Denied?

When you file a workers’ compensation claim, your insurance provider and their adjusters will be hell-bent on ensuring they pay you the least compensation amount possible or deny your claim altogether. With such a motive, they will look for the slightest reason not to approve the claim. Below are some of the denial reasons they can cite:

• Lack of medical records: The insurance company will require you to produce medical records indicating when you sustained the injuries and the costs incurred during the treatment period. The lack of these documents will invalidate your claim. You should keep a proper record of all your medical documents and doctor’s reports to corroborate your compensation claim.
• Being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs during the accident: If you were intoxicated when sustaining the injuries, the insurance adjusters could have a clear excuse to deny your claim.
• Failure to notify your employer promptly: You should report the injuries to your employer or the relevant authority in your workplace immediately after being injured.
• Injuries sustained while committing a crime: If you were injured while committing a crime, you will not be eligible for compensation under the Worker’s Compensation Act.
• Errors in your claim: The insurance provider can also deny your claim if they identify inaccuracies in your claim document. For this reason, you should submit only accurate and consistent information regarding the claim. An attorney can come in handy when filing the claim to ensure you provide only the relevant details.

Appealing Your Denial

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Affairs handles all workers’ compensation claims in the state. This independent body reviews your claim details and can uphold or overturn the denial. In most cases, the resolutions come at this stage. However, if the rejection is maintained and your attorney believes you still have a solid case, you can opt to take the case for hearing before an administrative law court to seek approval.

Get in Touch with The Law Office of James F. White for Assistance

If you have been injured in your workplace and have challenges filing a workers’ compensation claim, the Law Office of James F. White can help. Call us at 508-541-8585 or contact us online to speak with our lead Massachusetts workers' compensation lawyer, Jim White.