The Insurance Information Institute provided statistics for 2017 stating that the top 5 private industry occupations with the largest number of injuries and illnesses were laborers, truck drivers, janitors and cleaners, nursing assistants, and general maintenance and repair workers. Also recorded was that the most common cause of workplace deaths for the period 2015-2016 were transportation-related, including vehicle crashes. It should be noted that while an employee is entitled to worker’s compensation, one of the most common reasons a worker’s compensation claim is denied is that the claim is not filed or reported on time. According to Alaska Statutes it is a legal requirement that a worker report the claim immediately or within a matter of days to the employer and thereafter the employer must inform the worker’s compensation insurance as quickly as he or she received the report of the injury.

It has been reported that insurance companies will routinely deny worker’s compensation claims in order to reduce insurance expenses and liability. While you are entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, disability, specific loss benefits and more, your claim may be denied for a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is to your advantage to speak to attorneys and law firms in Wasilla Ak that handle worker’s compensation claims. Having an attorney on your side can be a huge advantage in such cases.

A Crowson Law Group attorney highlighted the following, “Many people decide to file their worker’s compensation claims without legal assistance which can in turn lead to costly mistakes. Such mistakes can include missing the deadline of reporting the claim. In most cases this occurs when the individual does not put the claim notice in writing or failing to adhere to the stipulated duration after the incident. Another common mistake employees make is assuming that their employer is on their side. The reality is that the employer and the insurance company are not on your side no matter how good the terms are with your employer. This is mainly because a worker’s compensation claim increases the amount the employer shall pay the insurance company and therefore the employer is likely to seek to protect their financial interests when it comes to your injury and may deny your claim or seek to give you less than you deserve.”

One article stated that another common mistake made by employees is assuming that their medical records are private; “While medical records are generally protected by privacy laws, this is not the case in worker’s compensation cases. Once a worker files for worker’s compensation benefits, they forfeit their rights to privacy and their medical records may be reviewed by interested parties in the case such as the insurance carriers, worker’s compensation judges and vocational experts.”

In addition, many injured workers decide to handle their worker’s compensation claim on their own without an attorney. It should be noted that insurance adjusters may try to offer the injured employee a low settlement or may give them less than they verbally agreed to if the employee fails to get the offer in writing.