First, don't panic. Hartford and other workers comp insurance companies in DC routinely deny legitimate claims for workers comp benefits after someone has been hurt at work. We see this all the time.
You should receive a Notice of Controversion within 14 days of when your company knows about the injury (and a critical part of any DC workers comp case is making sure you notify your employer about your injury - you need to do that in writing, sometimes employers will have an incident or injury form, or tell your boss or supervisor that the injury happened at work. It's not enough to tell a co-worker or just to say "my back is hurting"). The Notice of Controversion Hartford files should give a reason why they are denying the claim.
Sometimes that reason is they just don't have enough information - maybe they haven't gotten your medical records that relate the injury to your work and your doctor's opinion that you cannot work. That's another critical piece to get your case going.
If your injury is serious - you need surgery, or you'll miss a lot of time from work - this is the time to get a DC workers comp lawyer who can help. Because once that Notice of Controversion is filed, they don't have to pay your benefits if you can't work or your medical treatment. It's up to you to request a Formal Hearing so a judge can decide the case.
Because of the way we work the case up for you, any times we can get the insurance company to start the benefits and provide the medical treatment well before the hearing - but you need that hearing in place.
Need more info on what to do if Hartford is your workers comp insurance company?
Call us today at 202-393-3320 for a FREE copy of the only book on workers comp written for workers injured in the DMV (it's the book the insurance company doesn't want you to read) to learn what you have to do to make sure the insurance company doesn't take advantage of you and your family after a serious injury at work.
