As an employer, one of the leading factors affecting your workman's compensation insurance policy rate is the number of claims filed by your employees. The fewer claims filed, the lower your rate will be. Also, the fewer claims made against your company, the less money you will need to pay to workman's compensation lawyers to defend your company's position when unjust or fraudulent claims are filed.
While you can't stop your employees from filing a claim if they believe they are injured on the job, there are many things you can do to try and prevent unnecessary and fraudulent claims, including following each of these important tips.
Tip: Carefully Screen Applicants with an Eye Towards Future Fraud Potential
One of the absolute best things you can do to prevent fraudulent workman's compensation claims against your company is to be very careful about who you choose to hire. While you will never know for certain what future actions employees will take, carefully screening applicants with an eye towards future fraud potential goes a long way toward preventing this problem.
To effectively screen applicants, make sure you ask pointed questions about their thoughts about workplace injuries. Additionally, take the time to call all of their past employers and listen carefully to what they have to say. Past employers may not come out and say negative things about the applicant, but many will give you enough information so you can read between the lines and weed out people who don't have honorable intentions.
Tip: Talk with Your Insurance Carrier About Common Indicators of Fraudulent Claims
It's a sad fact, but workman's compensation fraud is a serious problem for many employers. Employees who are dishonest and don't have a good work ethic often see a claim as an easy way to support themselves without having to get up and go to work every day.
To better educate yourself on this topic, your insurance carrier can supply you with information about all of the most common indicators of fraudulent claims. For example, fraudulent claims often include the following things.
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Previous injuries not obtained on the job
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Injuries happening when no other employees are present
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Exaggeration of symptoms
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Refusals to obtain the proper medical attention
In addition, fraudulent claims are often filed first thing on a Monday morning after an injury occurs at home over the weekend.
Tip: Consult a Local Worker's Compensation Lawyer
While you may want to let your insurance carrier deal with your employee's claim against your policy, this is actually the worst thing you can do. The insurance company will happily take on the task, but you are going to be a lot more likely to see a large increase in your premiums in the future if your employee gets a large settlement. Instead, consult a local attorney and see if you can work together to lessen the impact of the claim on your company's policy premiums.
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