Common disputes in Vermont workers’ compensation claims

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the oMost contested claims are not denied with a dramatic accusation. They are chipped away in pieces. The insurer might accept the initial injury but reject ongoing treatment. It might pay some lost wages but use the wrong average weekly wage. It might argue that your current symptoms are from an old injury instead of the incident that happened at work.

Independent medical exams are another flashpoint. These exams are often used by insurers to create a basis for limiting benefits. That does not mean every exam is unfair, but injured workers should understand what is happening. The insurer is building a record, and if that record goes unanswered, it can shape the outcome of the claim.

There are also disputes over work capacity. If your doctor says you have restrictions, but the insurer claims there is suitable work available, your benefits may be affected. Whether that position is real, appropriate, and consistent with your medical limits is not always as clear as the insurer suggests.