How to Check the Status of a Workers’ Comp Claim in Delaware

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to helping those who have been hurt on the job obtain the benefits they are entitled to. Call the firm in Wilmington, Seaford, and Newark to schedule a meeting to discuss your accident and injuries today.

If you suffered an injury while carrying out your work-related duties, you may have filed a workers’ compensation claim to help you make ends meet and put food on the table during your recovery. While it is a great idea to file for workers’ compensation, you should stay updated on the status of your claim as frequently as possible. This will ensure that you are aware of any problems affecting your claim and keep you informed on if or when you may start receiving benefits.

What is workers’ compensation?

According to Simply Insurance, around 4.9 million workers’ compensation claims are filed each year by government and private employees. Therefore, workers’ compensation is a necessary program that helps keep workers afloat when they need it most. When an employee suffers an injury or develops an illness while working or carrying out their job-related tasks, they usually have the opportunity to file a workers’ compensation claim, which may help them with:

• Paying for medical treatment: After sustaining a severe injury or illness at work, you will likely need medical treatment. Instead of worrying and stressing about how you might pay for medical treatment while you are out of work, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits to help you cover some, if not all, of your medical-related expenses. Covered expenses may include emergency room visits, overnight hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, doctor office visits, X-ray and CT scans, and more.
• Replacing their wages or income: When you are unable to work for a long period of time, you begin to lose out on much-needed income. However, if you are approved for workers’ compensation, these benefits may be able to help you replace some of the wages or income that you have lost and will lose in the future due to your work-related injury or illness.
• Receiving ongoing rehabilitation or care: Workers’ compensation can also help you receive the proper rehabilitation or care that you need. This may be physical therapy, occupational therapy, caregiving services, or even vocational training. By receiving rehabilitation, care, or training, you may be able to heal and recover at a faster rate and get back to your normal job-related duties as quickly as possible.

How do I check the status of my workers’ comp claim in Delaware?

When you complete and submit a workers’ compensation claim, your employer’s insurance company becomes responsible for reviewing and accepting or denying the claim. Therefore, in order to check the status of your claim, you will need to stay in touch with your employer’s insurance company. However, while doing this, you should remain cautious and remember that the insurance company may seek ways to reduce the amount of money they have to give you.

You may also be able to ask your employer about the status of your workers’ compensation claim. If the employer and their insurance company fail to communicate or cooperate with you, you may need to contact the Delaware Department of Labor to find out about any updates.

How do I know whether my workers’ compensation claim is approved or denied?

It can be difficult to sit and wait for a decision regarding your workers’ compensation claim, especially when your medical bills and monthly expenses are quickly accumulating. However, the truth is that these types of claims take time, which often causes individuals to become impatient and even hopeless. To find out whether your workers’ compensation claim has been approved or denied, you can ask your employer, their insurance company, or the Delaware Department of Labor. If you are unable to obtain a status update, you should begin frequently checking the mail. Most of the time, a letter is immediately sent out to those who are approved or denied workers’ compensation benefits.

Why would my workers’ compensation claim be denied?

If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, there is likely a reason for this. Here are a few of the most common reasons why workers’ compensation claims are denied:

• You failed to meet deadlines: It is very important that you meet all necessary deadlines. If you do not follow the deadlines that have been put in place, there is a strong chance that your workers’ compensation claim will be denied.
• Your employer or their insurance company denied that the injury occurred at work: Another common reason why workers’ compensation claims are denied is because the employer or insurance company argued that you did not become injured or sick while at work or carrying out your work-related duties. In order to disprove this argument, you will need significant evidence showing that your injury or illness did occur while you were working.
• Workers’ compensation does not offer benefits for your injury, illness, or medical condition: Some injuries, illnesses, or medical conditions are not covered by workers’ compensation. Before filing a claim, you may want to do some research to ensure that your condition is covered. If workers’ compensation does not offer benefits for your specific condition, a Delaware workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help you find an alternative to obtaining the financial assistance that you need.

Do I need a workers’ compensation lawyer to assist with my claim?

You are not legally required to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer to assist you with your claim. However, if you choose to do so, they can help you in various ways. Below, we will go over several different ways that a workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you with your claim.

• They can help you meet all the necessary deadlines.
• They can help you obtain the proper evidence, information, and documents to support your claim.
• They can communicate with your employer, the insurance company, and the Department of Labor and ask for quick status updates on your claim.
• They can provide legal representation and fight for your rights during any hearings regarding your workers’ compensation.
• They can help you negotiate and decide on a fair settlement agreement based on your injury or illness.
• They can help you file an appeal if your claim is denied.
• They can determine whether there are any other benefits available to you.

If you need assistance with checking the status of your workers’ compensation claim, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman at your earliest convenience. Our team knows workers’ compensation cases, and we do all that we can to help you obtain the financial assistance that you need and deserve during this challenging time. We are also available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns that you have about your workers’ compensation claim or benefits. All you have to do is call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation in Wilmington, Seaford, or Newark today.