A bogus claim for compensation may be devastating, even for a large corporation. Understanding the characteristics of a fraudulent claim and the steps you may take to defend your company is crucial. If you think a worker is exaggerating an injury, you have legal options to dispute their claim. But you should recognize the signs of a liar.

You must also choose how to dispute the claim without increasing the cost of your company’s workers’ compensation insurance. Read on to find out how to handle a staged injury.

Contact your legal representatives

If someone claims they have been hurt on the job, you should get in touch with a workers’ compensation injury lawyer as soon as possible. Do not put off seeing an expert until you are in deep trouble. Let’s say you operate your business in LV. If you want to play things safe and on the up-and-up, you should probably go to lawyers who do personal injury claims in Las Vegas who can give you the best advice on what steps need to be taken to deal with false claims. In addition to educating you on your legal rights, attorneys will assist you in taking the necessary measures to safeguard your company’s interests.

Tips for dealing with fake injuries

A firm may suffer greatly from any bogus claim, unfortunately. A worker who fabricates an illness or injury is not doing their duties. Overtime compensation for other workers or the hiring of a temporary worker might be necessary. The additional expenditures reduce the overall efficiency of the business.

The company may take the following measures to reduce the number of false claims of injury-related missed time:

• Establishing a thorough safety program and prioritizing workplace safety
• Adopting WSIB-compliant practices for handling accident reports, treating injuries, and submitting claims. 
• Teaching managers what to do in the event of an accident and providing them with feedback and guidance.
• Supervising the process of getting wounded workers back to work.
• Fostering a happy and productive work environment. Fraud is less likely to occur when workers are content in their jobs.
• Telling your staff that WSIB and OHSA payments are only for actual injuries and that anybody caught engaging in fraud might face criminal charges is an important element of educating them on these programs.
• If at all feasible, installing security cameras in public areas of the workplace

Indications of false injury

These actions may point to insurance claim fraud on the part of an employee. The Worker’s Compensation Insurance Board (WSIB) may be contacted by an employer who suspects an employee of making up an injury.

• No one saw the accident that caused the injuries. Especially if the worker is usually surrounded by others and the accident only happened during a brief period when the worker was unsupervised.
• The worker continues altering his/her version of events.
• Lag time between injury and report. An example would be a worker who claims an injury that allegedly happened weeks ago.
• There are behavioral difficulties or a strike going on with this employee. A dissatisfied or disturbed worker can make up an ailment so he/she can take a “vacation” from employment.
• The employee has a history of making claims. An employee who has already received substantial perks may want more.
• The employee is refusing the return-to-work program and any consideration of light-duty labor.

Nurture communication

After an employee makes up an ailment to get out of work, it’s important to remind everyone of the rules at your organization. Make it clear that you will take action against anyone found to be making false claims. Make sure the current claim is handled in accordance with company policy. Then you may point to it as an example of bad behavior.

It’s important to keep in touch with your staff on a consistent basis after the occurrence. Make sure they know they can approach you with any issues they’re having. If you establish credibility with your staff, they may feel less tempted to lie on the job.

Contact your insurance provider

Call your insurance provider as soon as you start dealing with a plausible injury story. It is imperative that you report the scam to your PEO or broker immediately. You may get assistance from the business in your battle against the fraudulent injury claim. Obtaining the money back from the worker and going through the appropriate legal channels are both things that might be assisted with.

Maintaining your insurance company’s respect requires prompt communication. The insurance company won’t think twice about paying out on legitimate claims from you or your company. You may acquire a fresh PEO quotation to reflect any changes to your business’s size or requirements.

Take some preventive measures

Even though we can’t stop everything from happening, we can do our best to try. Even a quick health and safety audit at work will indicate that you care about the well-being of your staff. Dangers abound in workplaces with too much clutter, too many loose cables, or both.

The smallest kitchen accident, such as a spill, might cause serious injury. Some could say it’s merely a coincidence, not the product of carelessness, but if someone is hurt because of something that might have been avoided but was, they have a case. Regular inspections are essential if your job requires the use of large equipment. And attempt to keep certain areas quarantined or put up warning signs if there is work being done during company hours, like construction work or cleaning. 

Get insurance

Obtaining insurance is often a no-brainer. If an accident were to happen at work, having general liability insurance would let any company, big or small, know precisely what their policy covers. Damage to property, defamation of character, and slander are also included. Every year, you should reevaluate your general liability insurance to make sure you are still properly insured. 

Some employees, under pressure to make ends meet and bored with their routine labor, resort to questionable ways of making money, frequently ignoring the moral and legal ramifications of their acts. You, as a business owner, need to be aware of the most important steps to take when dealing with such fraudulent claims, as this will help you protect your best interests.