Fort Worth Workers' Comp Attorney
Workers' Compensation and Fraud
There are many fraudulent schemes in Texas having to do with workers' compensation and its benefits. Fraud can occur from many different aspects of the claim, either from the employer, employee or even the health care provider and attorneys. None of these fraudulent schemes are worth getting into in any way, and can lead to severe penalties for violation of Texas laws. To protect your rights in filing and obtaining your legal benefits, consult with a
workers' compensation attorney from the Malaise Law Firm. Properly and ethically filing your claims is important in obtaining all the benefits you are entitled to. Some of the different types of fraud that can occur are outlined below.
Employer Fraud
Employers can commit workers' compensation fraud by attempting to get their premium reduced in paying for workers' compensation insurance through various means such as reclassifying employees or falsely lowering their payroll to cut costs. Employers can also attempt to discourage employees from filing claims either through threats or coercion.
Health Care Providers Fraud
Health care providers can sometimes present fraudulent claims by falsifying medical reports, or even creating them completely, when the person was not even treated. Showing treatment dates on weekends or holidays is an indication that treatment may have not even occurred. Excessive treatment, or having a partnership with an attorney also indicates possible fraud to employers and workers' compensation insurance companies.
Employee Fraud
Employee fraud is carefully reviewed by the Texas Department of Insurance as well as the workers' compensation insurance companies that represent employers. Signs they see as possible indicators of fraud include:
- Injury not reported in a timely manner
- No witnesses to an injury
- Injury occurring late Friday or early Monday
- Injury occurring before a strike or holiday, or in anticipation of termination
- Employee fakes an injury in order to collect benefits
- Employer disciplinary action on the employee followed by a workers' comp claim
- Injury occurring in a location where the employee would not normally work
- Injury that is inconsistent with normal job duties
- Employee observed in activities inconsistent with the reported injury
- Employee history of workers' comp claims
- Conflicting diagnoses from subsequent treating providers
- Evidence of employee working elsewhere while drawing benefits from another employer
Avoid Workers' Comp Fraud
When filing a workers' compensation claim it is best to have the professional services of the Malaise Law Firm to assist you in filing. By accurately and thoroughly reporting your injury, you stand the best chance of obtaining all benefits you are entitled to. Our legal firm has effectively assisted numerous clients in Fort Worth with personalized service and can do the same for you.
If you have any questions about workers compensation fraud,
call the Malaise Law Firm
to find out how we can help with your claim.