Fresno Workers’ Comp Appeals Attorney

Ready to Help Whenever You Need Us

Many people who need workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace accident are surprised to learn that a large percentage of all workers’ comp claims face first-round denials. Insurance companies want to save money, and the fastest way to do that is to deny as many claims as possible. At Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers, we take pride in helping local workers stand up to insurance companies by challenging unfair case denials.

If you work in Fresno and your worker’s comp claim was denied for any reason, talk to our attorneys about the workers’ comp appeals process. We can walk you through the entire procedure, starting with a review to check if your claim is eligible for an appeal. If it is, we can provide compassionate and knowledgeable legal representation during Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) hearings before administrative law judges (ALJ), as well as any interactions with your employer or the insurance provider.

Make your workers’ comp appeal simple for you by handing it to us. Call (888) 740-6434 and request an initial consultation. Hablamos Español.

Why Are Workers’ Comp Claims Denied?

Workers’ compensation claims can be denied for many reasons. Oftentimes, a denial is justified based on the circumstances.

A workers’ compensation claim might be denied for these valid reasons:

• You were not hurt during the scope of your employment.
• Your injury was minor and required no professional medical care.
• You did not lose or miss any income due to the injury.

In other situations, though, an investigation may reveal that the insurance company did not provide a legally acceptable reason to deny the claim. If no reason for the denial is given, then it probably is illegitimate. The purpose of an appeal is to ask the WCAB to review the denial and allow you and your attorney an opportunity to explain why it should not be accepted. 

Workers’ Comp Appellate Hearings

The workers’ compensation appellate process in California is somewhat unique in that it does not start and end in a typical courtroom. Instead, an appellate case will require a hearing before the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, which is usually held in the CA State Division of Workers’ Compensation office in Fresno. An administrative law judge will oversee the hearing and decide on the outcome, which could be the court’s approval of the workers’ compensation benefits owed to you, a lump-sum settlement to be paid to you based on the value of the benefits you need, or the court’s approval of the denial.

During a WCAB appellate hearing, you can expect:

• The hearing to carry out like a trial, with both sides bringing arguments and evidence to the judge’s attention.
• The judge to make a decision based on the letter of the law unless some discretionary decision-making would be the fairest.
• Your attorney to do all the talking for you unless you decide ahead of time that you should make certain statements yourself.

If the ALJ cannot reach a decision based on the facts presented by both sides, a workers’ compensation trial will be scheduled. If the case ends out of your favor but you think the denial is still legally unjustified, you can talk to our attorneys about potential next steps, such as appealing to a higher court.

For Start to Finish Legal Help, Call Now

To make sense of your workers’ comp denial, talk to the Fresno workers’ compensation appeals attorneys of Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers. We keep our phone lines open 24/7, so it is always the right time to reach out for help. We’re standing by to fight for your right to fair compensation after a work injury.

Call (888) 740-6434 now. If you prefer, you can send an online contact form, too.