In certain situations, an employer may wish to keep a workplace accident and resulting injuries from their workers’ compensation insurer. This desire may lead an employer to speak with the injured worker and request that the worker handle the injury through their own personal health insurance provider instead of making a claim for workers’ compensation. An employer may even offer to pay an injured worker’s deductibles or co-pays charged by their personal insurance company throughout their medical treatment for the injury. Though some employees—especially of relatively small or close-knit companies—may sympathize with an employer, there are many different serious issues that may arise if you attempt to take this route.
First, personal health insurance does not cover any wages you lose as a result of your injury. For this reason, you may be losing out on significant compensation that would allow you to pay your bills and support your family if you have to miss work due to your injuries.
Additionally, in order to have your personal insurance company cover your treatment, you must lie to your medical providers and your insurer and state the injury occurred elsewhere besides the workplace. If your insurance company investigates your claim—which they often do—and discovers that you provided false information, you could be accused of insurance fraud. Not only does Florida have an entire state agency devoted to investigating insurance fraud claims,1 but such allegations may even result in criminal charges.2
Aside from the possible serious consequences of insurance fraud allegations by the state, your insurance company will almost certainly stop providing benefits for your injury. If you then try to turn to the workers’ compensation system in order to continue your treatment, you may hit many roadblocks. The workers’ comp insurer will very likely take issue with the fact that you originally stated your injury was not work-related, which will make obtaining benefits substantially more difficult. Furthermore, your employer who was at first so generous in offers to help cover your expenses will likely quickly rescind those offers. If you are in this situation, please call our office as soon as possible to discuss your options.
An experienced Clearwater workers’ compensation attorney at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can help you today
Too many employers try to take advantage of injured workers to try to limit insurance costs and preserve their bottom line. However, no matter how guilty your employer tries to make you feel, you should always realize that you have the right to proper workers’ compensation benefits for any qualified workplace injury or illness. You should never feel bad about exercising this right, as the workers’ compensation system is in place for good reason—to rightfully help workers cover their costs and losses that result from an accident on the job. The highly experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA in Clearwater, Florida are committed to helping injured workers get the full benefits they deserve. We know how to stand up for your rights, so please call our office today at 727-451-6900 for a free consultation.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900
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