Workers’ compensation insurance is an important part of the system we have to protect the rights and safety of workers. It offers compensation and access to medical care when a person suffers an injury while on the job. However, these insurance policies are also in place to protect employers from frivolous lawsuits. In many cases, the insurers that provide them prefer to protect their bottom line over protecting injured workers.
When you experience a work-related injury, it is wise to look at your circumstances carefully to ensure that your workers’ compensation provider does not minimize your payout or refuse coverage that you should receive. This is particularly true when it comes to repetitive motion injuries and other ailments that develop slowly over time.
It is sometimes difficult to get workers’ compensation approved for repetitive motion injuries, because there typically is no single event that an injured worker can point to as the cause. It is certainly possible to receive fair treatment in these instances, but may require some additional work to build a strong claim and follow it through.
Building a strong claim
Proving that your injury occurred because of your job is not always an easy task. Often, it is wise to identify the specific actions that you perform in your work that caused or aggravated your injury.
If your duties are not consistent within your job, it is easier for an insurer to deny your claim. Once you determine which motions you repeat most frequently, you can narrow down which specific motions caused your injury or made an existing injury worse. Generally, the more specific and detailed your claim, the better chance you stand to receive a fair payout.
Seeking compensation for an existing injury
Insurers are typically skeptical of all injuries, and often deny claims if they believe an injury was caused by something other than the current job of an injured worker. If you developed an injury at a previous job, you may worry that your new employer’s workers’ compensation does not cover you.
Fortunately, there is some room to negotiate when it comes to repetitive stress injuries. Even if you received such an injury at a previous job, you may still file a successful claim with your current employer if you can prove that your current job aggravated the injury. Still, it requires a great deal of detailed documentation and support to make these claims believable.
Protect your rights and future
Even if you are not sure that your injury qualifies for coverage, it is wise to begin building your claim as soon as possible. You may find along the way that you have a much stronger claim than you realize, and the sooner you take action, the sooner you can enjoy the support and relief that you need. A strong legal strategy helps you keep your rights safe while fighting for full compensation so you can focus on your own needs and concerns.