Why Do Employers Dispute Workers Comp Claims?

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When you’re injured, you’ll need your workers compensation benefits to help pay for your medical care and recover from your injuries. Unfortunately, you may be struggling with that because your employer is disputing your claim. Now, you’re not getting the benefits you need when you need them. That can hurt your future and your chances […]

Why Do Employers Dispute Workers Comp Claims

May 30, 2019

By Niko Pothitakis

Category: Workers' Compensation FAQs

When you're injured, you'll need your workers compensation benefits to help pay for your medical care and recover from your injuries. Unfortunately, you may be struggling with that because your employer is disputing your claim. Now, you're not getting the benefits you need when you need them. That can hurt your future and your chances of recovering from your injuries. So, why do employers dispute workers comp claims? The reasons can vary depending on the claim. Reach out for help from an Iowa work comp lawyer if you've been injured and your employer is disputing your claim.

Costs of Insurance

One of the major motivations for a denial is often money. Your employer may be more focused on their profits, not your recovery. If there are many workers comp claims being filed, the insurance company may raise the costs of their premiums, meaning your employer pays more for the insurance they must carry. Because they're focused on keeping those numbers to a minimum, they may try to deny your workers comp claim. They want to keep their costs low, so they'll try to put the expenses on you.

Disputes on Location of Accident

In other dispute cases, your employer may not believe that your accident happened at work. This dispute often arises when workers don't seek medical care right away. Your employer may use this delay to their advantage, claiming that you could have been injured somewhere else, not at work. That's why you'll need to seek medical treatment immediately after an accident, even if you feel fine. For example, you may have slipped and fell, but you just feel a little bruised. Later, your back hurts so much that you can't work. If you waited to see a doctor, your employer may claim you could have been injured somewhere else.

Visibility of Injuries

Some injuries are less obvious and clear-cut than others. For example, it may be clear that you were injured if your arm was caught in a machine, but what about repetitive-motion injuries or work-related illnesses? Less-visible illnesses can be harder to prove, which may lead to a dispute. Your employer might question whether you were truly injured. Often, that means you'll need to seek out more exams and proof from your doctor. These tests can strengthen your claim and show your employer the severity of your injuries.

Appeal a Dispute with a Workers Comp Lawyer

When you've suffered a serious work-related injury, getting workers comp benefits is vital for your recovery. Unfortunately, you may now be dealing with a dispute, which makes securing those benefits difficult and frustrating. Reach out for help from your lawyer when you're asking, “Why do employers dispute workers comp claims?” At Pothitakis Law Firm, PC, we'll help you defend your benefits, starting with a free consultation. We'll take a look at your claim and show you how we can help before you sign anything. When you're ready to fight back, reach out for your free consultation from your Iowa work comp attorney. Give us a call at 319-754-6400 or complete the online form below.

Niko Pothitakis

For the past 15 years Mr. Pothitakis has focused his practice on Workers Compensation and Personal Injury Cases. The firm has two locations, one being in Burlington, Iowa and the other in Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. Pothitakis works with many area unions and employee organizations to provide advice, assistance, and guidance as it relates to employment issues. Mr. Pothitakis provides free consultations to those with legal questions in the firm's areas of practice. In this initial meeting or conference potential clients are provided advice on their need for assistance and how they need to proceed.