Top 5 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Workers’ Comp Case

Workplace accidents happen in every industry. While construction workers face a higher risk of injury, even office employees can suffer serious conditions such as repetitive strain injuries, lumbar strains, or arthritis from sedentary work. Whether your injury comes from a sudden electrical shock, years of repetitive motion, or another workplace hazard, a work injury can significantly disrupt your life.

Some injured workers hesitate to file a claim, worried about how it may affect their employer or colleagues. These concerns are understandable, but it is important to remember that you have legal rights. Workers’ compensation laws exist to protect you, and if you are injured in the course and scope of your employment, you should not feel guilty about seeking the benefits you are entitled to.

At the same time, filing for workers’ compensation can be intimidating. Many workers are unfamiliar with the process and unintentionally make mistakes that jeopardize their cases. By understanding these common pitfalls, you can strengthen your claim and improve your chances of receiving full benefits.

Here are the top five mistakes that can harm your Pennsylvania workers’ compensation case:

1. Failing to Timely Report Your Injury

One of the most common mistakes injured workers make is delaying the reporting of their injury. Timing is critical in workers’ compensation cases. If you wait too long to notify your employer, your claim may be denied or certain benefits may be lost.

Failing to report promptly gives the employer and insurer an opportunity to argue that the injury occurred outside of work hours or was unrelated to your job. Always report your injury to a supervisor or manager immediately, and clearly state that it is work-related. Keep detailed records of any communication about your injury. Reporting promptly is not just a procedural step—it is a fundamental requirement of workers’ compensation law.

WATCH: When Should You Give Notice to Your Employer of a Work Injury?

2. Delaying or Misreporting Medical Treatment

Another frequent mistake is delaying medical care. For example, if you injure your back at work but try to “tough it out” without treatment, your condition may worsen. If you eventually seek care but fail to mention that the injury occurred at work, this can severely undermine your claim.

This creates two problems: first, the delay itself raises doubts about the seriousness or cause of the injury. Second, failing to report the injury as work-related from the outset allows the insurer to argue that your treatment should not be covered. Once a doctor knows the injury is work-related, they must bill workers’ compensation insurance—not your private insurance. Insurers often use delays or inconsistencies as grounds to deny benefits.

3. Not Following Your Doctor’s Instructions

Once you begin treatment, it is essential to follow your doctor’s recommendations. This includes diagnostic testing, physical therapy, referrals to specialists, and prescribed medications. Ignoring medical advice can lead to:

• Incomplete or delayed recovery
• Notes in your medical records labeling you as “non-compliant”
• Early discharge from treatment or premature return-to-work status
• Insurers using noncompliance to argue that you are not truly injured

If you are given work restrictions, you must follow them in every area of life. Social media posts or surveillance footage showing you lifting objects, performing activities, or otherwise violating restrictions can be taken out of context and used against you. Compliance is critical to protecting your claim.

4. Not Understanding Your Rights

Many injured workers mistakenly assume that because their employer knows they were hurt at work, benefits will automatically be provided. Others assume that the insurance company has their best interests in mind. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

Workers’ compensation insurers are private, for-profit companies. They make money by collecting premiums from employers and lose money when paying out claims. Insurers will use every tool at their disposal to limit or deny your benefits.

For this reason, it is crucial to consult with a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after your injury. The longer you wait, the more opportunities the insurer has to undermine your case.

5. Being Dishonest with Your Lawyer

Finally, one of the most damaging mistakes is withholding information from your attorney. You must be completely honest about the details of your injury and your medical history—even if some facts seem unfavorable.

Omitting details in hopes that they never come up is almost always a mistake. Those facts usually surface during litigation, and addressing them late in the process makes them harder to manage. Your lawyer can only protect you fully if they know the entire story from the beginning. Often, what you think is a damaging detail may not be as harmful as it seems—if your attorney is prepared.

Final Thoughts

Filing for workers’ compensation can feel overwhelming, but avoiding these common mistakes will give you a stronger case. Prompt reporting, timely medical care, compliance with treatment, a clear understanding of your rights, and honesty with your lawyer are all critical to protecting your benefits.

If you have been injured at work in Pennsylvania, do not leave your future to chance. Contact Stern & Cohen, Philadelphia’s workers’ compensation lawyers, to protect your rights and secure the benefits you deserve.