A Fort Lauderdale Worker’s Compensation Fraud Lawyer Will Protect Your Right to Compensation 

When you get injured or sick on the job, there are a few legitimate reasons why your employer or its insurance company can deny your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. One of these reasons is workers’ compensation fraud. If you submit false information in support of your claim for benefits, then your employer may be within its rights to deny coverage for your job-related injury or illness.

Unfortunately, many employers and insurance companies falsely accuse employees of workers’ compensation fraud in an effort to deny coverage. If you are being accused of fraud, you should not take the accusations at face value. They may be an attempt to deny your claim in bad faith; and, even if there are legitimate issues with your claim, it may be possible to resolve these issues and still collect the benefits you deserve. Our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation fraud lawyers can help.

What Constitutes Workers’ Compensation Fraud in Florida?

Workers’ compensation fraud can take many different forms. However, in most cases, accusations of fraud fall into one of three categories:

• Non-Work-Related Injury or Illness – Most accusations of workers’ compensation fraud involve claims that employees’ injuries and illnesses are not work-related. Workers’ compensation benefits are only available to employees who get injured or fall ill on the job, and employers and their insurance companies will quickly deny claims when there is inadequate evidence that an injury or illness is covered.
• Exaggerated Injury or Illness – Another form of workers’ compensation fraud involves exaggerating the extent or effects of a job-related injury or illness. For example, an employer may allege fraud on the basis that an employee’s neck or back injury does not cause sufficient pain to prevent him or her from working.
• Made Up Injury or Illness – Finally, some allegations of workers’ compensation fraud involve claims that employees made up their injuries and illnesses entirely. This is most common with concussions, repetitive stress injuries (RSI), post-traumatic stress, hearing loss and other types of non-visible medical conditions.

Are You a Victim of Workers’ Compensation Fraud?

In addition to fraud committed by employees, workers’ compensation fraud can also involve wrongdoing by employers and their insurers. If you are a victim of workers’ compensation fraud, then not only may you still be entitled to benefits, but you may be entitled to additional compensation as well. Some relatively common examples of employer workers’ compensation fraud include:

• Intentionally denying a workers’ compensation claim or terminating benefits in bad faith
• Misclassifying employees as independent contractors in order to avoid workers’ compensation liability
• Not providing workers’ compensation coverage as required by Florida law

Speak with a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at the Maus Law Firm

If you need help dealing with accusations of workers’ compensation fraud or if you believe that you may have been defrauded by your employer, it is important that you speak with an attorney promptly. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer at the Maus Law Firm, please call 855-999-5297 or contact us online today.