Many legitimate workers’ compensation claims are denied each year for a variety of different reasons, especially in New York State. In 2014 over 165,000 new claims were officially filed for New York work related injuries of which 11,175 were controverted! Unfortunately, this leaves many workers without the benefits that they need to support themselves while recovering from an injury. In this article we discuss some of the main reasons for denied claims and what you can do if your claim is denied.
Why Are Workers Comp Claims Denied? 
Workers’ compensation claims are denied for many different reasons, however there are some reasons that are more common than others.
Among other reasons, your workers compensation claim could have been denied if:
- You did not notify your employer of your injury within the required time
- You did not receive medical treatment after being injured
- You did not submit your application on time
- You did not provide all of the necessary information on your claim
These are only a few of the most common reasons for denied claims, however there are many other reasons why a legitimate claim may be denied.
3 Steps To Take After A Denied Claim
Just because your claim was initially denied does not mean that you should give up. In fact, many people are able to obtain benefits by appealing a decision or finding other benefits that they are eligible for. We discuss three steps to take after your workers’ compensation claim is denied.
1.) Review Your Application
The first thing that you should do is review your application for workers’ compensation. Sometimes, claims are denied due to simple paperwork mistakes or missing information. If, you cannot figure out why your claim was denied then you may want to seek legal help.
2.) Contact An Attorney
An experienced attorney can be a very valuable resource when appealing a denied workers’ compensation claim. In addition to helping you review your application, an attorney can help you present your appeal.
3.) Gather Evidence & File An Appeal
If you believe that your claim was wrongly denied then you may appeal the decision. However, you will want to be well prepared for the appeals process in order to maximize your chances of overturning the decision. One of the first things that you should do is gather additional information and evidence that can be presented during your appeal to strengthen your case. An attorney will be able to help you gather all relevant evidence and will help you prepare for your appeal.
Legal Help In New York
Our experienced attorneys have helped many injured workers’ to appeal a denied claim in the past. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, please contact us for a free consultation. We represent injured workers throughout the Greater New York City area including those in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Nassau County and surrounding areas. Call us at 914-279-0696 or contact us online to discuss your case.