
If you had your workers’ compensation benefits denied, a Santa Clara County workers’ compensation claim lawyer at Wiesner English, P.C. can help you recognize why your claim was dismissed and what available options are still there for you. A denial does not automatically mean your case is over and done with. Many workers’ compensation claims that were denied are still appealable and can be corrected or supported with further evidence under California’s laws.
In Santa Clara County, workers’ compensation claims are commonly denied because of issues with paperwork, disputes with employers, and challenges from insurance providers. Understanding how denied workers’ compensation claim cases work and how California law applies is vital to protecting your rights.
In California, workers’ compensation insurers are supposed to carefully review claims, but denials frequently take place even when there is a legitimate injury. Some common reasons can include the following:
Denied workers’ compensation claim laws in California let insurance providers deny claims as additional investigations are being conducted, meaning the overall decision is far from final. Claims are heard at the Oakland Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, located at 1515 Clay Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA, 94612.
More often than not, denied workers’ compensation claim cases are more complicated than claims that have been approved. Once a denial is issued, the weight shifts onto the injured employee to demonstrate that the injury occurred during and because of their course of employment. Such a process usually involves medical evidence, records from the employer, and even testimony when necessary.
Every year, California takes on only one-fifth of cases, creating a backlog of over 25,000. A denied workers’ compensation claim attorney in Santa Clara County, CA can determine whether the denial was given because of inadequate evidence, an ignorantly applied law, or wrongful assumptions held by the insurance company.
After your claim is denied, injured employees still have possible options at their disposal. California law lets you contest the denial through the workers’ compensation appeals process. This can include:
According to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB)’s 2025 State of the System report, the state’s average indemnity cost per indemnity claim was over $30,000. In the same report, it’s stated that California had 41% of indemnity claims unreported. Each stage has stringent deadlines and regulatory rules. Failing to follow a single step can permanently impact your claim’s chances.
Countless denials happen because of preventable errors, such as:
If your claim has been denied, it is probably time to hire a denied workers’ compensation claim lawyer. Legal counsel can help point out weaknesses in the denial, collect solid medical evidence, and confirm all filings are compliant with California’s workers’ compensation rules.

At Wiesner English, P.C., we are committed to concise communications, thorough investigations, and relentless pursuit. Because of this, an attorney from our firm can help by:
California law enforces rigid deadlines for the appeal process of denied claims. Such timeframes can vary depending on the denial’s reasoning and the point of the case. The inability to act within the specified limits can lead to permanent loss of benefits, which highlights the importance of obtaining legal counsel in a timely manner.
A workers’ compensation claim can be denied if the insurance provider believes the injury did not take place at work, was reported in an untimely manner, lacks medical evidence, or involves a condition they do not cover. Denials can also take place during an investigation. This is why working with an experienced attorney from our firm can help clarify your options.
For most cases, injured employees have one year from the date they suffered the injury or denial to seek formal action. Specified deadlines can vary depending on the procedural positioning of the claim and them being followed extremely carefully. A skilled attorney can look over the facts and determine all possible avenues for you and your case.
In California, workers’ compensation laws are periodically updated, which usually affects calculations of benefits, guidelines for medical treatment, and regulatory requirements. Previous changes have focused on standards for medical review, structures of benefits, and overall efficiency. A member of our experienced firm will have the needed skillset to look over your situation and identify effective paths.
Some common reasons for a California workers’ compensation claim to be denied or rejected can include untimely reporting, insufficient medical evidence, disagreements over how the injury came to be, accusations of prior conditions, and statements that the injury resulted from actions performed outside of your duties at work. Our firm can be the help you need.
A denial does not equate to the end of your workers’ compensation case. If your benefits have been denied, you should contact Wiesner English, P.C. today for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.
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