Most injuries that occur, while you're on the job, are covered under workers' compensation. However, some claims may be denied. If your work comp claim has been denied, you should consult a work comp attorney to understand whether you can appeal the decision.

Here are 5 common reasons why a claim may be denied.

Self-Inflicted Injury

Self-inflicted injury doesn’t only include intentional self-harm. It is a broader term. For example, starting a fight with your co-worker is considered a self-inflicted injury. So, if you were injured because you got into a fight with a co-worker, you may have to prove that you did not start the fight, if you want compensation.

Injury due to Company's Policies Violation

Some companies have safety policies that need to be followed. For example, if an employee was not wearing safety glasses despite written instructions in their employee manual, their claim may be denied. This can lead to difficult situations because some verbal orders may not agree with written ones. For example, a supervisor may have specifically instructed the worker to do something against the company safety standards. This is why thorough documentation and the guidance of an experienced attorney is extremely important.

Injury due to Criminal Action

Employees, who were breaking the law, when the injury occurred, are usually not covered under work comp. For example, if the employee was breaking into a property to steal something, and an injury occurred, they would not be eligible to receive work comp benefits.

Injury Not on the Job

In some situations, an employee might have been on company property yet not on the job. If this employee was injured on the employer's property due to, say a safety hazard, but before or after they actually clocked in or the injury occurred while driving to or from their workplace, such situations are considered on a case by case basis.

Injury While Intoxicated

If the employee was intoxicated at the time of injury, coverage will usually be denied and the company will not have liability. However, an employee, who is impaired due to prescription medication, may still qualify for work comp benefits if their employer was made aware of the medication and if the worker was not engaged in anything they were not supposed to be doing under the effects of the medication.

All these situations are complex and consulting an attorney is the only way to determine whether or not your injury should qualify for workers' compensation.

To consult the best workers’ compensation attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, call Arizona Injury Law Group at 602-346-9009. Arizona Injury Law Group PLLC offers workers’ compensation attorneys who help injured workers seek benefits and justice and a voice standing up for you!