The workers’ compensation system in Virginia is meant to help workers, who were injured on the job, or have been diagnosed with job-related diseases. Injured workers can get reimbursement for medical bills and loss of wages, although there are terms and conditions for that. Sadly, obtaining these benefits may not be as easy as it looks on paper. There are many reasons why a claim can be denied. Working with a reliable Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer can help your case. In this post, we are sharing more about reasons for claim denial and when it’s necessary to hire a lawyer.
Reasons why claims are denied
There are several factors that can impact your eventual settlement. Claims are often denied for reasons unknown to workers. Your claim may get denied, if –
- You failed to inform your employer. You have 30 days from the date of injury to report the incident to your lawyer, and ideally, you should do the same as soon as possible.
- You failed to file the claim on time. For filing your claim with Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, you have a deadline of two years. If you failed to do the same, your claim will be denied immediately.
- Your injuries are not covered. The workers’ compensation system in Virginia only covers injuries that happened at work, or during the course of work. For instance, if you had a history of cardiovascular disease and suffered a heart attack during lunch time, the workers’ compensation system will not cover the same.
If you don’t complete the necessary forms that must be submitted to the insurance company by the employer, your claim can be denied.
Meeting an attorney
It is wise to consult a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. You don’t want to lose out on important evidence, and a skilled lawyer knows what it takes to back a claim. They can ensure that the paperwork is done right, and as needed, they may even take steps for appeal, if your initial claim is denied.
The cost of hiring a workers’ compensation lawyers depends on many factors. However, it is possible for a lawyer to take up the case on a contingency basis, if the final settlement is likely to be worth the fight. Talk to an attorney you can trust and do ask them about the possible outcomes and eventualities. Spending a tad more on the right workers’ compensation lawyer in Virginia is never a bad idea.
