When you clock in at your place of work, you look forward to making your contribution to the economy in return for your paycheck. Unfortunately, accidents happen; when they do, the outcome can be devastating. If you are hurt while doing what you are hired to do, you may be entitled to financial restitution in the form of workers’ compensation.
However, not all workplace injuries end in compensation. Sometimes, your employer may have valid grounds to successfully dispute your workers’ comp claim. Here are two questions that might help you understand why your workers’ comp claim could be denied:
Did you miss key timelines?
Depending on the nature of the accident, a workplace injury can leave you with serious injuries. While some injuries may require a brief visit to the doctor’s office, others may require hospital admission. Either way, it is important that you let your employer know about your injury within a specified timeline. In Virginia, this timeline is 30 days from the date of your injury.
Additionally, Virginia workers’ compensation laws require injured employees to file their claims within two years following the injury. Again, it is important that you observe this timeline. You risk having your claim dismissed on grounds of missed deadlines.
Were you intoxicated at the time of the injury?
Workers’ compensation is never about finding someone to blame and sue for your injuries. Rather, it is all about getting the employer, through their insurance provider, to compensate an injured employee for damages incurred following a work-related injury. However, if drugs and alcohol are involved, then the employee may not be entitled to any compensation for injuries sustained. When you visit an emergency room following a workplace injury, your employer has a right to demand that you are screened for alcohol in your system. Your claim will generally be denied if it is established that you were intoxicated when the injury happened.
A workplace injury can greatly impact your life. Find out how you can protect your rights and interests while pursuing financial restitution for your work-related injury or illness.
