How and why can my worker’s compensation benefits be terminated?
A person is entitled to workers’ comp payments to offset the cost of missed income and medical bills whether they become sick from workplace exposure or sustain injuries during employment. A doctor selected by your company or the worker’s compensation insurer evaluates your capacity to perform your tasks. Note, though, that occasionally, you might lose your benefits for certain reasons. If you do, workers’ compensation lawyers in Hampton Roads will assist you in fighting for your rights.
What are Workers’ Comp Benefits?
A state-regulated insurance program known as workers’ compensation helps workers hurt or sickened by their employment. These advantages can help pay for missed income, medical bills, and other injury or illness-related expenses. Generally speaking, workers’ compensation benefits are accessible to employees regardless of who caused the accident or illness. This is a norm, nevertheless, with certain exceptions. For example, workers’ compensation benefits might not be available to negligent, harmed workers.
6 ways your worker’s compensation may be terminated
1) The private investigator
Sometimes, insurance companies would pay a private investigator to watch a wounded worker under a doctor’s physical restrictions. The injured worker’s benefits may be canceled should the private investigator’s video capturing indicate the wounded worker performing more than they say or if the worker is engaging in activities that would contravene the guidelines of the worker’s compensation doctor.
2) Refusing light-duty work
Sometimes, insurance companies would pay a private investigator to watch a wounded worker under a doctor’s physical restrictions. The injured worker’s benefits may be canceled should the private investigator’s video capturing indicate the wounded worker performing more than they say or if the worker is engaging in activities that would contravene the guidelines of the worker’s compensation doctor.
3) The Independent Medical Exam
Insurance firms often send an injured worker for an “Independent Medical Exam (or IME). Selected by the insurance company, the IME doctor is hand-picked to review an injured worker’s medical reports, assess their current course of treatment, and subsequently notify the insurance company about the claimant’s abilities and present treatment plan. The insurance company may cut off payments for lost wages due to non-cooperation if the wounded worker fails to attend this exam.
4) The Functional Capacity Exam
When the doctor thinks their limits are permanent, injured workers are sometimes sent for a Functional Capacity Exam (or FCE). Usually, a Physical Therapist, the examiner on the FCE, will have the injured person perform multiple motions and lift set weights to evaluate their strength and physical ability. The injured worker has to make every effort to participate in this exam.
5) Quitting
The insurance company does not have to reimburse lost wages to the injured worker once they have resigned from their employment, whether the injured worker quits while they are off of work due to an injury or on a limited duty status.
6) Gaps in medical treatment
Should an injured worker have an Award of Lifetime Medical Benefits but not use them for a protracted period and subsequently visit a doctor for treatment, the doctor must be able to determine if the workplace accident is the cause of the current symptoms the injured worker is suffering.
Conclusion
If your employees’ compensation benefits were canceled without clear reason or justification, it’s time to contact a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney. We hope this blog has helped you understand the importance of worker’s compensation. Get in touch with a professional lawyer who specializes in this domain, to get the right help and assistance.
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