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North Dakota Workers Compensation



A brief guide to North Dakota workers compensation laws

All employers are required to maintain some form of insurance in case their workers are injured on the job. Employers who do not do so are in violation of North Dakota workers compensation law. These regulations are designed to make sure employees who are injured while working receive financial compensation for their injuries.

To make sure your rights as defined by North Dakota workers compensation laws are respected, you should make sure to submit a written report regarding any incident leading to injury within 30 days of its occurrence. Failure to do so may lead to a denial of coverage. An employer is in violation of North Dakota workers compensation law if they try to stop you from seeing a physician of your choice. You have the right to decide what kind of medical consultation you require.

North Dakota workers compensation laws state that you have the right to compensation regardless of the circumstances surrounding an injury. It is not relevant if you were partially or responsible for such an incident. Regardless of your degree of responsibility, North Dakota workers compensation law requires an employer to cover your medical expenses.

However, there are steps an employer or their insurance company may take to try to deny you such compensation. For example, North Dakota workers compensation laws allow employers to request that you receive a second examination from a physician of their choice if they feel the medical professional you have visited has overstated the extent of your injuries and the care required. You must submit to this exam. 

To make sure you are not denied the compensation you are entitled to under North Dakota workers compensation law, you must return to work as soon as possible. If you are unable to resume your old duties as the result of an injury, begin seeking new employment. North Dakota workers compensation laws allow an employer or insurance company to cease payments if you fail to do so.

Sometimes employers may attempt to deny you compensation by claiming that any injuries are the result of pre-existing conditions rather than an accident. Not only could such charges lead to compensation being denied, under North Dakota workers compensation law they leave you open to charges of fraud. If an insurance company uses this allegation as a reason to deny you compensation, you may wish to consult with a lawyer who can help you appeal this decision before your local workers compensation board.

You may be offered a Section 32 settlement. North Dakota workers compensation laws state that if you accept this kind of one-time financial compensation, you cannot seek more aid at a later date to help with unexpected medical expenses. Accepting this offer will also preclude you going to civil court to seek damages at a later date. To make sure accepting this offer does not rob you of all options granted by North Dakota workers compensation law, consult with a lawyer.

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