Ways To Avoid The Workers Compensation Appeals Board

If you were injured while working for your employer, or have suffered a condition caused by the nature of your job, the injury is considered a work related injury. In most cases this means that under workers compensation law, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and your prescribed time off of work for treatment. This can be a somewhat tricky process to navigate, however, because your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance provider will require you to process requested documentation in a specific order, maintain a high level of accuracy in your records, and carry out any treatment options they designate themselves. Any misstep in the filing or application process can result in an immediate denial of your claim, sending you into a long and tedious appeals process. This process can cost you much time and money, as you will be forced to pay your expenses out of your own pocket while the appeals process is under way. So, how can you avoid the workers compensation appeals board?

The First Step to a Successful Claim

One of the most important ways to avoid the workers compensation appeals board , other than your claim being of a truthful and honest nature, is a timely incident report with proper documentation.

It is imperative that you report the incident or injury to your employer as soon as you possibly can.
This typically means the insurance company requests proof of an incident report within 48 hours of either the accident or treatment for the condition you are seeking compensation for.
This report must be accompanied by a full disclosure release to the insurance company signed by both you and your doctor, so that the insurance company may request any medical records or information pertaining to your case directly from your medical care provider.

Accurate Documentation

Another imperative step in a successful worker’s compensation claim is to have any paperwork that has been or will be requested by either your employer or the insurance company filled out both accurately and thoroughly, providing any and all information requested. This will allow the insurance company to investigate your claim as thoroughly as they see fit and give them no indication of a fraudulent claim being filed. In most cases, those who file a fraudulent worker’s compensation claims are hesitant to provide any real details about their injury. Being completely forthcoming about the incident and the injury will greatly assist you in avoiding the appeals process.

The Appeals Process

As soon as your employer or the insurance company provides you with a notice of denial, inform them immediately that you intend to appeal the decision. You may obtain any appeal information you need from either the Human Resources department at your employer’s headquarters or directly from the insurance company.

Getting Help

One of the best ways to avoid the workers compensation appeals board is to get an attorney involved as early in the process as you can. Your lawyer can help you to make sure that you gather all necessary evidence and submit all applications in such a manner that your claim is more likely to be approved the first time around.

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