The Blame Game: 3 Reasons Your Employer May Say You're At Fault For Your Own Injury

When something happens at work and you are left with an injury, you fully expect that your employer will step up to the plate and make sure your medical bills are taken care of and you are covered for your time off of work. However, many employers don't like to file workers' compensation claims because it can make their premiums higher. Furthermore, workers comp insurance companies will often try to downplay your injuries to prevent having to pay. Don't be surprised if your employer tries to somehow claim you are at fault for your injuries on the job. 

They may say you were already injured when you arrived at work. 

One reason why it is important to report an injury as soon as it happens is because it will be less likely that your employer will claim that you were injured on your own time. Say, for example, a heavy box falls on your foot as you are on your way to punch out for the day and you just go on home. If your foot swells overnight and you try to report the incident the next morning, Your employer could say you were injured at home because you were fine when you left. 

Your employer could claim an injury was due to your own misconduct. 

If an employee is injured out of blatant disregard of safety rules, the employer can get out of paying for an injury or paying for the extent of the bills and time from work in some cases. Some employers will use this to their advantage by claiming you were not following safety rules when you were injured on the job. This is one reason why it is crucial that every time you go to work, you follow safety rules and regulations to the letter. This way, if you are injured, there is nothing your employer can hold against you when you file a workers comp claim. 

An employer can use previous injuries to their advantage. 

Even though an injury at work should be covered even if you were previously injured and the injury was exacerbated in an incident, this can mean that your employer will not have to accept full responsibility. Make sure when you go for medical exams after a workers comp claim that you are clear about any previous injuries and how they were or were not affected by the incident on the job. To find out more, speak with someone like Kolker Law Offices.