The worker’s compensation benefits system was created to provide money to employees who were injured at work. That money compensates them for lost income during their recovery time and pays medical bills. Sometimes, employers dispute workers compensation claims. The denial of the claim can be appealed, although succeeding with the appeal can be difficult without representation by Workers Compensation Lawyers in Vermont. There are two main reasons why organizations dispute claims by injured employees.
Avoiding Higher Premiums
The main reason for claim disputes is that businesses pay insurance premiums for workers comp, just as people do for any type of insurance. And, as with other kinds of insurance, premiums can rise if claims are made. Business owners don’t want to pay more than they have to for their insurance coverage. Most employers are required by law to carry this insurance.
The Possibility of Carelessness
The employer may feel that the worker was careless or negligent and workers comp should not be provided. However, this benefits system requires insurers to pay even if the employee was responsible for the accident. There are specific exceptions to this rule, however. For instance, if the person was injured because of getting into a fistfight with another employee, workers comp does not have to pay benefits.
Guarding Against Fraud
An employer may truly believe that the worker is committing fraud of some sort. Perhaps there is no evidence that the injury occurred at work and no witnesses to verify the incident happened there. This scenario sometimes happens when the worker delays reporting the incident and nobody else saw it happen. The injury might not have seemed as serious at first, but symptoms worsened by the next day. Workers Compensation Lawyers in Vermont provide legal representation for these individuals.
The employer may believe the worker is exaggerating the seriousness of the situation. This might occur when diagnostic tests cannot confirm a problem. This is sometimes the case with neck and back pain and with soft tissue injuries. Anyone who needs assistance with a claim denial by an employer may contact a law firm such as McVeigh Skiff LLP.