Pay Without Prejudice

When you’re hurt on the job and you can’t work, the insurance company should be paying your wages. However, what many people don’t know is that an insurance company can decide to stop paying you without much notice.

This is called the “Pay Without Prejudice” period. For the first 180 days you receive Workers Compensation, the insurance company can decide to stop paying you with only about a week’s notice. If you’ve been on Workers Comp for more than 180 days, the insurance company can’t stop your benefits without getting approval from the Department of Industrial Accidents. Since this process can take a few months, it gives workers time to plan their finances.

The one thing to watch out for is that sometimes insurance companies ask workers to extend the 180-day period. The insurance company will still pay you, but they’ll still have the option to stop paying you with only a week’s notice, as opposed to a few months.

If you’re injured on the job and you’re receiving Workers Compensation, you might think that you don’t need a lawyer. Unfortunately, circumstances can change very quickly. It’s best to have a lawyer in place before you need him/her. That way, should something happen, the lawyer is ready to take action as soon as possible.