Injuries at work in a KFC do occur from time to time. Burns, scalds, and slip and fall injuries in the kitchen or restaurant are all quite common. If you are a KFC worker and have been injured while at work, you may have already filed a claim for workers’ compensation. If your claim was well prepared and you kept to the deadlines imposed on claims of this type, you should have been able to recover any costs for medical treatment and a percentage of lost wages. If your claim was rejected, you may still be able to have the decision reassessed before you resort to filing an appeal against the decision. Appeals are never easy as the whole process requires legal help and good preparation. If you do consider filing an appeal, you should discuss the case with a workers’ comp. attorney first. Contact KFC's Insurance Company When KFC’s insurer informs you that they have rejected your claim for compensation you should ask them for a reason. Insurers cannot reject a WC claim without a valid reason. For example, if you burnt your hand on a hotplate in a KFC kitchen and the insurer thinks this was your own fault, this is not a valid reason for denying you compensation. There may in fact be a very simple reason why your claim was rejected. The most common is that someone made a simple mistake supplying information after you were injured, e.g. that your accident took place when you were not at work. There are other reasons why a claim might be denied, but unless you know what the reason was, it is not easy to do anything about it. If you cannot correct a simple administrative error and still believe that you should be awarded compensation after a genuine workplace injury, you should consider filing an appeal. File Your KFC Workers’ Comp. Appeal The workers’ compensation board or relevant body in the state where you are working decides how an appeal should be made. There is a defined procedure and time limits involved at each stage which must be adhered to if you are not to lose the chance of appealing. If there is no attempt by KFC’s insurer to reverses their original rejection, you should go ahead with filing an appeal after talking to a WC attorney first. Most states will attempt to break the deadlock by scheduling a mediation session first. This is when both you and a representative from KFC’s insurer meet with a mediator to try and resolve the differences between you. If this still doesn’t work, a formal hearing will usually be arranged. At the hearing you have a chance to provide convincing evidence before an administrative judge that your claim was justified. It is best to be well prepared for this hearing. Further stages of appeal are usually available if the hearing does not go in your favor. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help File an Appeal Filing an appeal can be an intimidating challenge. Being sure that you have good grounds for submitting a claim for compensation is not always enough to convince state WC officials or your employer’s insurer. This is where an experienced workers’ comp. attorney can provide useful advice and negotiating strength throughout the often drawn out appeal process. Additional Resources Who Is Covered Under KFC Workers’ Compensation?* I Got Hurt Working for KFC. What Do I Do?** Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against KFC, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
