If you work at Target, there are a number of ways in which you could be injured. Bad backs, strained joints, broken bones and dislocations from slip and fall accidents, herniated discs, repetitive strain injuries are all possible and quite common. Target, as a large, multinational corporation has workers’ compensation insurance to cover its employees if they are injured while at work. Claims are not necessarily approved automatically. You do have to let your Target supervisor know exactly what happened and the accident, and more specifically the injury, should be recorded and logged in the company database. A claim denial is always on the cards and this can be annoying and frustrating. Denied claim decisions may be reversed if there is a simple reason for the denial, such as an administrative error. Failing that, you may need to file an appeal with the help of a workers’ compensation lawyer. Contact Target’s Insurance Company Unless Target’s insurer has provided a definite reason why your claim was denied, you should contact them directly to find out what was the justification for rejecting your claim. As workers’ compensation insurance is not based on proving fault, the main stumbling block that might lead to a denial is if there is doubt whether the injury you are claiming for actually happened at work and not say, at home or out in the street. It does help to have confirmation from other workers at Target to verify that you were injured. It also helps to have done everything you should have done on time, e.g. notified your employer, and made sure the injury was recorded in the company accident record database and provided receipts and doctors’ reports. Quite often there is a simple reason why a claim is challenged or denied and once this is rectified the claim can go ahead. File Your Target Workers’ Comp. Appeal If you can’t get the insurer to change their mind over their decision, the next step is to file an appeal. You don’t do this directly with the insurer, but instead through the workers’ comp. agency, board, or authority of the state you are working in. Each state has its own particular way of doing things and you will have to familiarize yourself with the procedure. A workers’ comp. lawyer can help you file a formal appeal. There will usually be an attempt at resolving the disputed claim through mediation first. You should ask your lawyer to attend mediation with you. A representative from Target’s insurer will be present as well. Mediation doesn’t always work, as the same arguments are usually made by the insurer as before. The next step is for the matter to be brought to an official hearing. This is usually scheduled some months after the appeal is filed. A judge, or sometimes a panel, will be at the hearing to examine all the same evidence as before. If you can find new material to support your case, then this is the time to submit it. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help File an Appeal An appeal is not for the faint hearted. It should only be attempted if you have explored every other avenue and found that your employer’s insurer is adamant that your claim is invalid. This is when you really need professional legal help. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer before filing an appeal. Additional Resources How Much is a Claim Against Target Worth? Help! What Should I Do after a Target Work Injury? 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 Target, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
