Employees in Minnesota who are injured on the job are usually entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, some workers’ comp claims get rejected for a variety of different reasons. Here are some of the most common.
#1: Not eligible
If you are an independent contractor, you are technically not employed by the company that you are doing work for. Workers’ comp claims filed by independent contractors get rejected.
#2: Waited too long
There is a time limit for you to inform your employer about your workplace injury as well as a statute of limitations for filing a claim. The amount of time that you have to act will depend on the nature of your injury. For example, you usually get more time to file a claim for an occupational disease that was caused by long-term exposure to toxins.
#3: Injury not caused by employment
Your workers’ comp claim could be rejected if there is little evidence that your injury was work-related. This is one of the reasons why it is crucial to report an injury to your employer as soon as it happens.
#4: Injury was employee’s fault
Some workers’ comp claims are rejected on the basis that the worker caused their own injury because of an intentional act or wilful negligence. A worker with a self-inflicted injury may not be eligible for benefits, for example. If horseplay or intoxication led to a workplace injury, a claim for this injury would also be rejected.
#5: Employee not seeing a doctor
A key piece of evidence in any workers’ comp claim is an independent medical examination. If you do not attend doctor’s visits after you are injured on the job, your claim will lack evidence and may be rejected.
#6: Injury was exaggerated
Your workers’ comp claim could be rejected if you exaggerate the extent of your injuries. In some cases, an exaggeration may not disqualify your claim, but it could lead to a reduction in the amount of benefits that you receive.
It’s important to document everything after a work-related injury so that you may qualify for the maximum benefits. If your claim gets rejected, it’s possible to file an appeal.
