Is Your Oregon Worker's Compensation Carrier Taking Full Responsibility?
When I review an Oregon Workers Compensation file the first time through, I always try to find what I consider the most important document in the claims file; the Notice of Acceptance. In this document, the insurance company is required to state what exactly it thinks your on the job injury is. Why is this so important? The insurance company, in accepting a certain medical condition, is defining how much, and what benefits you are entitled to.
Many times, my workers compensation clients will have suffered a more serious injury, like a torn knee ligament, or a low back disc injury. However, when you find the notice of acceptance buried in the file, you find that the carrier is only accepting a knee strain, or a minor low back strain. This is a problem.
A lot of injured workers do not know that the insurance company is not accepting full responsibility. The statute and the rules provide that the insurance company can pay for more medical care than what it is actually responsible for without consequences. I remember a case where my client underwent major back surgery only to find out that all of the problems the surgeon addressed were denied, along with his right to re-training and permanent impairment benefits.
The good news is that you can challenge this notice of acceptance, and demand that the insurance company take full responsibility for the injury you suffered. We have fought many claims like this, and are happy to review your file to make sure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
