What Happens When My Employer Says My Work Injury Was Not Work-Related?
December 29 , 2022My Employer Says My Work Injury Was Not Work-Related
At the Ramsay Law Firm, P.A., our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys have represented injured clients from all walks of life, and have heard countless stories about employers taking the low road when it comes to admitting their employees were hurt at work.
Ideally, when someone is hurt at work, the employer will acknowledge the incident, file a report, and provide the worker with instructions for seeking medical care, and the appropriate workers’ compensation benefits.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. When an employer refuses to acknowledge a workplace injury, it places the worker in a difficult position. Who is going to pay for their medical care? What if they must take a significant amount of time away from work?
Our Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation attorneys and support staff in Charlotte are here to help you understand your rights as an injured worker, so you can pursue the benefits you deserve to take back control of life.
Why Would My Employer Refuse to Acknowledge My Workplace Injury?
There are multiple reasons why North Carolina employers may become uncooperative when injured employees are seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
They may include, but are not limited to:
- Lack of Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Even though the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act requires that all businesses — with very few exceptions — that employ three or more employees obtain workers’ compensation insurance or qualify as self-insured employers for purposes of paying workers’ compensation benefits to their employees — not all companies have coverage.
Failing to recognize your claim could be a red flag that the employer has not kept up with their coverage premiums, or never had coverage to begin with.
- Attempting to Avoid Insurance Premium Increases
Employers may hesitate to acknowledge a workers’ compensation claim because they may want to avoid an increase in their insurance rates.
- Blatant Non-Compliance
An employer has a legal obligation to report workplace injuries and is violating the law by failing to do so.
- Reporting Delay
Your employer may state that because you did not report the injury right away, you are not eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. This is not true if your employer had actual knowledge of your injury.
- Claiming the Injury is Not Severe Enough to Warrant a Claim
It is never okay for your employer to evaluate your workplace injuries and determine whether you can file a workers’ compensation claim. This determination should be made by a physician, or multiple physicians.
If you were hurt at work in North Carolina, you have the right to receive medical treatment, and to have that treatment covered by workers’ compensation even if your employer refuses to acknowledge the injury or tries to discourage you from reporting it.
If your employer is uncooperative, refuses to acknowledge your injuries, or proposes paying for your medical care and time away from work out-of-pocket, contact our skilled Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys today for help. You have rights, and we are here to help protect them.
Contact Our Dedicated Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina
Our dedicated Charlotte workers’ compensation law firm provides free consultations to injured workers throughout North Carolina by calling 704-376-1616 or contacting us online.
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