Most people think of a workers’ compensation injury as an accident that happens at work. You can point to a specific day or event and say it happened then or there. But what happens when you cannot remember what caused the accident or are unable to explain how the injury occurred?
If you ask a workers’ compensation insurance company adjuster this question they will most likely say that your problems are not work related, but pre-existing or idiopathic in nature. Wikipedia says idiopathic means, “arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause.” Merriam-Webster defines it the same way but adds that it is, “peculiar to the individual.” So what you have is pain from something that you (your body) created, caused or produced naturally as opposed to having something external event happen to you (in this scenario we are not talking about problems caused from a prior accident or injury).
By using the pre-existing or idiopathic defense, Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance companies are creating reasons to deny payment of your medical care, lost wages and more. If they can obtain a non work-related cause of injury and need for treatment they will grab onto that possible cause, no matter how unrealistic or improbable it may be.
Do not let this happen to you. The experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt have more than 50 years combined experience working with injured employees who were hurt at work and whose insurance carriers deny benefits due to pre-existing or idiopathic causes.
If you believe you have been hurt at work and your claim is being denied by the insurance company based on a pre-existing cause or idiopathic defense, call us today for a free and confidential consultation. We will fight for your rights and work to obtain for you the medical and monetary benefits to which you are entitled under the law.
Call to speak with one of our attorneys live for a free and confidential consultation. Why wait? Call today. (561) 616-3800
