It is difficult to work in today’s economy. Most employers are looking for ways to reduce their costs and budget effectively. While it may seem financially beneficial to deny the injured employees benefits, there are some reasons why this may not be in an employer’s best interest.
Workers’ Compensation benefits are designed to protect the worker, and without those benefits, the worker may be unable to provide for his or her family. If injured on the job, there are certain benefits that an employee is entitled to. When an employee is unable to work or injured on the job, it can have a severe impact on their family’s financial stability.
However, employers sometimes use the following reasons to deny benefits to injured employees.
1. Intoxication from drugs or alcohol
It is widely known that alcohol and illegal drugs are a huge reason why people are injured at work. Paramedics and emergency room staff across the country are often called to respond to situations where employees have been injured while intoxicated. And there are many times when employers will use this as an excuse to deny the benefits because they believe that the employee’s intoxication was a reason that they were injured.
2. Self-inflicted injuries
It is becoming much more common for an employer to look at the employee’s intent during the injury. This can often be proven by looking at the ways employers were injured. If they are not injured by a machine or if there is no visible evidence of a slip and fall, you may find that their claim is denied. Employers often deny providing benefits by claiming that the employee intentionally injured themselves.
3. Horseplay and reckless behavior
Employers will often use the fact that it was a “horseplay” injury as part of the reason for denying benefits. This can be denied because it was a bad fall or tumbled down a flight of stairs. It is often used to deny injuries that happen during an altercation between employees. In these situations, the employer may believe that they were self-inflicted and not caused by an accident.
4. Idiopathic medical condition
The “idiopathic medical condition” is a term used to describe an injury that cannot be explained by anything other than the injury itself. Without a proper diagnosis, it can often be difficult and time-consuming for an injured employee to prove their case and get the benefits that they deserve.
