Workers Compensation can be confusing for attorneys, employers and workers alike, and it doesn\’t help that there are numerous myths floating around the rumor mill at any given moment. Whether you\’re looking for Workers Compensation Leads or simply trying to clarify how your state’s own Workers Comp is supposed to function, this guide to the top five misconceptions should make things a bit easier.
1. Employers Are Only Responsible Until a Claim Is Paid
Many employers mistakenly believe that their job is done after a Workers Comp claim has been paid, but this simply isn\’t true. Unfortunately, employers who make decisions based on this concept only make things more difficult for themselves.
After one of your employees files, you\’re supposed to keep a close eye on their recovery even after the claim has been paid. This is simply practical because it makes it easier to gauge when the employee can return to work. On the other hand, it could potentially reduce the likelihood that your injured worker will be dissatisfied with your response to their unfortunate circumstances; if you stay in touch and keep up with their progress, you can evaluate their suitability for return-to-work programs that reduce lost days and the need for heightened demands.
2. Older Claims Are Easier to Handle
One common phenomenon observed in adjusters and others who process Workers Compensation leads is the tendency to let things sit for a while. Many individuals seem to operate under the delusion that medical costs will decrease as people recover and that their demands will ebb in a similar fashion.
These ideas are somewhat ignorant of reality. Although medical expenses can decrease if people recover, there\’s no guarantee that they\’ll get better, and per-procedure treatment prices are consistently on the rise. Furthermore, those who aren\’t working or receiving claim payments feel the financial pinch even more than they normally would; it only makes sense that their claims will increase in magnitude as time goes on. It\’s best not to delay when attempting to process a Workers Comp claim, especially if you want to forgo a complex dispute.
3. My Workplace Is Sufficiently Safe that Workers Won\’t Get Injured or Make Claims
Some employers run a relatively tight ship or completely eliminate prominent hazards. Nonetheless, compensation laws aren\’t only for those who sustain major harm.
Tiny injuries aren\’t excluded from claim eligibility, and when such injuries lead to other medical problems, like post traumatic stress disorder or the aggravation of preexisting physical conditions, your workers are undoubtedly going to file claims. Implementations that fail to account for the little contingencies are prime targets for convoluted claims, and no small number of Workers Compensation Leads are generated at workplaces whose owners thought they were safe.
4. Workers Compensation Is No Longer about Exclusive Remedy
People like to point to various legal cases from the early 2000s as evidence that the exclusive remedy rule is being tossed by the wayside. While it\’s true that some spouses have won tort damages from employers, and various states permit legal actions against firms that cause people harm, the majority of compensation cases sill adhere to the workplace injury doctrine that established compensation laws in the first place. It\’s critical to assess claims and cases in terms of the most applicable laws and statutes.
5. Compensation Costs Are Too High
The politicized nature of Workers Comp has led many to believe that companies are struggling under the weight of insurance and claim costs. Most industry experts, however, agree that firms gain definite advantages by instituting capable, legally compliant Workers Compensation systems.
Some adjusters and lawyers even theorize that firms that fail to maintain a firm grip on their compensation programs suffer the most. For instance, these companies may end up having their compensation expenditures dictated by unions. Others fall prey to injured employees who unknowingly select expensive care options or render themselves ineligible for compensation and thus have no other choice but to seek expensive litigious action.