Cause And Effect And Work Injuries: What To Know

24 August 2022

When a worker is hurt on the job, workers' compensation should cover them. However, many workers are turned down for workers' compensation insurance because they failed to show that work caused the injury. For a better understanding of how cause affects a workers' compensation claim, read on.

What Is the Cause of the Injury?

You can understand how this question is at the heart of all workers' compensation claims. Not all workers saddled with injuries and illnesses can cite their jobs as the reason for their afflictions. If work cannot be proven as the cause, the workers' compensation claim is likely to be denied.

For example, you might be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. However, you must show that the tasks of your job caused the medical condition. If your job did not involve a lot of wrist and hand movements, showing cause may be almost impossible.

Linking Cause to Injury

The above carpal tunnel syndrome example could turn out differently if the worker could show that:

• They had been temporarily assigned to do work with their hands.
• They had a previous job injury caused by repetitive motions. This is not considered a preexisting condition since it was the result of a work injury.
• The job may involve wrist and hand movements at least part of the time. For example, a job driving a forklift may not primarily involve wrist movement most of the time, but you cannot drive a forklift without moving your wrist.

If You Have Been Denied

It's not uncommon for workers who need workers' compensation benefits to be denied. The causes of a denial can vary, but many times, it is the inability to prove that the injury was caused by the job. Take these steps to ensure your injury gets covered and you get paid the benefits you need:

1. Seek medical treatment and explain to the doctor how you were injured. Not all doctors understand how a job task can cause an injury. Provide the doctor with some examples of work tasks that you commonly perform and what body parts are used.
2. Report the injury to your direct supervisor and see that a workers' compensation claim is submitted. Check the form before you sign it for errors or omissions. Add additional information if necessary.

If you have been denied benefits, speak with a workers' compensation lawyer about your claim. They can help you prove during the appeals process how your injury is directly connected to your job.

Contact a law firm like Siben & Siben LLP for more information.