Injured workers may not immediately think of hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer to help with their claim. The workers’ compensation system is an administrative process that is supposed to be easy to navigate.
In practice, the worker’s compensation process is not always straightforward. Your employer may dispute your claim, and the complexities that follow could make it difficult to handle your case.
You may want to consider working with a lawyer if you:
- Require extensive medical treatment
- Have permanent injuries
- Must miss long periods off work due to your injuries
- Are having a dispute with your employer or an insurance company over your case
- Do not believe you are being treated fairly
An Edgewater workers’ compensation lawyer from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. may be able to handle your case for these and other reasons. You do not have to face a disputed or difficult worker’s compensation case alone.
Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. at (201) 585-9111 to schedule your free case assessment.
Reasons That May Contribute to Denial of a Worker’s Compensation Claim
It is still possible for an insurance company to deny your worker’s compensation claim even when it is legitimate.
The following are some of the reasons why compensation insurers may deny claims:
- No one witnessed your injury
- You failed to report your injury immediately
- There is an inconsistency between your accident report and initial medical records
- Your initial medical records indicate the presence of illegal drugs in your system
- You filed a workers’ compensation claim after your employer laid you off
- You refused to give the insurance company a recorded statement or refused to sign a medical authorization
Regarding the lack of a witness, you should report the injury to your supervisor as soon as it happens. Mention the same thing to a co-worker without altering your story. Any discrepancies between your accident report and initial medical records may complicate your case.
Additionally, workers’ compensation laws may require you to report work-related injuries within a short period. Delays may lead to termination or denial of benefits. Compliance with state workers’ compensation law can help your case and your chance of getting the insurance benefits.
When you hire an Edgewater worker’s compensation lawyer from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. to work for you, we can gather evidence to prove that your work injuries are valid and in compliance with worker’s compensation regulations.
Disputing That Your Injuries Are Work-Related
An insurance company or an employer may dispute your claim on the grounds that the injury involved is not entirely work-related. This means that there may be other factors aside from your work that contributed to your injury, or that it came from a different activity entirely. This could reduce or deny the compensation you may be able to receive. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. may be able to defend you from this accusation by producing evidence that links your injuries directly to your work.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Employers and insurance companies may show reluctance to pay your worker’s compensation where you have a pre-existing condition related to your work injury. It is possible for them to blame your injury on a previous condition rather than on work activity. In this case, an Edgewater worker’s compensation lawyer from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. may be able to produce evidence that the injuries in your workers’ compensation claim are new, even if they represent a worsening of a pre-existing condition.
If you have suffered injuries in the course of your work activities and would like assistance with your workers’ compensation claim, call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. at (201) 585-9111. We offer a free consultation to injured Edgewater workers. Speak to a member of our team and get answers about your case today.
How a Lawyer May Be Able to Help You
An Edgewater workers’ compensation lawyer from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. may be able to manage your case and handle legal tasks on your behalf while you concentrate on your recovery.
This could allow us to:
- Examine all laws and regulations that pertain to your case
- Handle all communications, deadlines, and paperwork on your behalf
- Investigate your accident
- Interview witnesses
- Produce evidence of your injuries
- Collect testimony from accident reconstruction and medical experts
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a settlement offer
- Take your case to trial if they are not willing to make you a fair offer
Recommendations for Your Case
To avoid a wrongful denial of benefits or premature termination of your benefits, Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. recommends that you follow these general guidelines in your workers’ compensation case:
- Report the injury as soon as possible
- Get the names of all the witnesses
- Get medical treatment for purposes of court records
- Give a proper account of how you got injured
- Make sure you fill out the accident report forms precisely
- Make consistent statements devoid of any discrepancies
- Avoid giving tape-recorded statements to the insurer
- Attend all your medical appointments
Missing any of your medical appointments could hurt your claim. This may allow the insurer to assume that your injury was not severe and that you healed. With such information, the insurer may be able to deny or terminate your worker’s compensation.
For more information on New Jersey workers’ compensation claims, see the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. About Your Workers’ Compensation Case
If you would like legal assistance with a work-related illness or an injury, an Edgewater workers’ compensation lawyer from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. handle your case and get you the compensation for the damages sustained.
Call us at (201) 585-9111 for your free case evaluation. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. may be able to represent you on a contingency-fee basis with no up-front payment required. In this arrangement, do not charge for our lawyer services unless and until you recover compensation at the end of your case.