Why Your Workers Compensation Claim Was Denied

Injured employees in Utah are often surprised to find that their workers’ compensation claim was denied by the Labor Commissioner. The official letter denying the claim will usually state the reasons for the denial of the claim.

Why Would a Workers Comp Claim Be Denied?

Most workers’ compensation claim denials happen for a few reasons:

1. Statute of Limitations

There are two relevant statutes of limitations for a workers’ compensation claim. First, an injured worker must report the injury to his workplace supervisor within 180 days in Utah. Second, the Utah statute of limitations for filing a claim with the Labor Commissioner is quite restrictive. Any claim for workers’ compensation must be filed within 1 year of the date of the injury. The claim will probably be denied if either of these deadlines is missed.

2. Failure to show the injury was work-related

In order to be compensable, an injury must be due to employment. If your claim does not show a clear connection between your injury, and the work you were doing, the claim will probably be denied.

3. The employer is challenging the claim as falling outside the statute

Some kinds of injuries are not compensable, even if you were injured on the job. If alcohol or drug use on the job contributed to the injury, the claim would probably be denied. Also, the claim will probably be denied if employees were injured while engaged in roughhousing or horseplay.

4. Failure to seek medical treatment

In order to be compensable, an injury must require medical treatment in Utah. Failing to show in your claim that your injuries were treated will result in the denial of a workers compensation claim.

Even if your claim was denied, the Utah Labor Commissioner has an appeals process. You should consider filing the forms right away if you have been denied a workers’ compensation claim.

At Alta Legal, our workers compensation attorney in West Jordan, UT, routinely advises clients whose workers’ compensation claims have been denied. We are ready to represent you at any stage, from filing the initial claim to the appeals process.

Call us today for a consultation. Our lawyers have recovered significant compensation for many workers in work-related accidents and injuries. We can help you in your situation too.