Injuries are a possibility in any workplace and FedEx workers are certainly not immune to being injured while at work. Fortunately, the company has workers’ compensation insurance to cover any employee who suffers from an accident while at work and becomes injured. Compensation is not automatic and requires a claim to be submitted, most often direct to the company’s insurance provider, although the details vary from state to state. Not all claims are accepted straight away. Insurers may reject a claim for a number of reasons. Sometimes, the decision can be reassessed quite quickly and easily; at other times, it requires the claimant to file an appeal. Filing an appeal is not to be taken lightly as it is a lengthy and complicated process. It is best to talk to a workers’ compensation attorney before considering an appeal. Contact FedEx's Insurance Company You will be notified by FedEx’s insurance provider when they have made a decision about your claim. The reason for rejecting the claim may be given, but often there is insufficient detail to be able to contest the decision. You may need to contact the insurer directly to find out why your claim has been rejected. Sometimes, it is because an administrative error has been made, not necessarily by you. The wrong date or other simple mistake in the information about your injury may have been given to the insurer. Insurers may also deny a claim if they are unsure whether your injury definitely happened at work. It is always best to provide sufficient evidence that you had an accident while at work, for example, statements from other employees who saw what happened, or from a supervisor. There are other less likely reasons for denying a claim, such as an allegation that you injured yourself deliberately or were fooling around when the accident happened. These sorts of reasons can be refuted if you decide to file an appeal. File Your FedEx Workers’ Comp. Appeal If you decide to appeal against a decision to reject your WC claim, note that the procedure for appealing is quite prescriptive. You will need to know what the steps involve and when they have to be completed by. WC claims are generally determined by state regulation and not by either your employer or their insurer. There are a number of steps which should be followed in sequence until a final decision has been made one way or another. The first step is an attempt to get a representative from FedEx’s insurer to meet with you and your attorney in an informal mediation meeting to see if the difference of opinion about your claim can be solved easily. Mediation may not be successful, in which case a more formal hearing is usually organized. This may have a judge, or sometimes a panel of judges, to examine the evidence from both sides and make a decision whether to uphold the insurer’s denial or reject the reasons for it, allowing your claim to be reassessed. You should be well prepared for both mediation and a formal hearing and be prepared to turn up on the date set with sufficient evidence to show that you had a good reason for making the claim for compensation. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help File an Appeal The appeal process is not easy for any ordinary person to follow without legal advice and help. You are well advised to discuss your case with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney if your claim has been denied and you are considering filing an appeal. Additional Resources How long does it take to settle a workers compensation claim?> Speak With an Attorney Today 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 FedEx, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
