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3 Reasons to Get a Lawyer for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you work at a company that has five or more employees, it’s required to carry workers’ compensation insurance by Missouri law. Workers’ compensation insurance protects both companies and employees when injuries or illnesses happen on the job.

It allows employers to avoid being directly sued by workers and enables workers to recoup some of their lost wages and medical expenses while they recover from their injuries. However, getting approved for workers’ compensation benefits isn’t always easy.

You may have three obstacles in your way of approval:

  • Your employer
  • Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider
  • The Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation

First-time workers’ compensation applicants are often denied, especially when they don’t have legal help on their side.

Common Reasons for Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials

Workers’ compensation insurance providers are like any other insurance provider: they will find excuses to avoid paying you the money you deserve. That means many claims are denied on technicalities.

Here are some methods of denial you should be aware of when filing your workers’ comp claim.

  • Lack of Medical Evidence: If you did not seek medical attention immediately for your injury, it could be more difficult to verify the extent of your injury and prove that it resulted from work activities and not an accident outside of work.
  • Missed Deadlines: There are multiple important deadlines to keep track of in a workers’ compensation claim, like the time in which you have to initiate a claim or to inform your employer of your injury. A workers’ compensation lawyer can keep track of these deadlines for you so none are missed.
  • Incorrectly Filed Paperwork: The paperwork for filing a workers’ compensation claim can be confusing, and filling out a form incorrectly or with inaccurate or outdated information could be enough reason to deny your claim. Many injured workers seek workers’ compensation lawyers to ensure all their paperwork is filled out accurately.
  • Disputed Injury Severity: Workers’ compensation claims generally arise for injuries that leave the worker temporarily or permanently disabled and unable to return to work. Claims may be denied if your employer argues that your injury does not prevent you from performing your job.

How Our Lawyers Can Help

At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis workers’ compensation attorneys can assist you in three ways:

  1. We’ll prove your disability is work-related. Your employer, its insurance company, or the workers’ compensation board all may be skeptical of your claim and believe your illness or injury is pre-existing. We’ll collect evidence that proves it happened at work.
  2. We’ll ensure your paperwork is accurate, complete, and submitted on time. Many workers’ compensation claims are reduced or denied due to small oversights in paperwork. We’ve handled many claims, and we’ll ensure yours is airtight.
  3. We’ll appeal if your claim is denied. Sometimes, claims are denied for seemingly no reason. If that happens, don’t worry—our firm also has years of experience building strong appeals to get workers the benefits they deserve.

Don’t risk your family’s future or your chance to get compensation by going it alone. Contact us today—we’re ready to help.

Originally published December 3, 2019. Updated September 6, 2024.