Just the other day, a St. Paul work comp client came into my office to discuss his case. I asked him how the church volunteering project went.
He looked at me with surprise. I showed him the pictures, sent to me by the insurance company. They showed him clearing brush, moving rocks, and working around the grounds of the church.
This employee had restrictions that restricted his ability to work AT ALL. At the time he received full employee benefits allowed under the Minnesota workers’ compensation system while recovering from surgery.
My client explained that he really had not worked. He walked around the grounds while his wife helped the group, visiting with the other parishioners.
Unfortunately, he posted pictures of the day on Facebook. The insurance company had been monitoring his social media. If you examined the pictures more carefully it was clear that he was not “working” in any of them. He was standing in front of the camera in most and doing nothing. In one he was holding a piece of brush.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY USED THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO DENY HIM EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
Although the work comp case eventually settled for a significant amount, the pictures the employee posted on Facebook made it much more difficult to obtain employee benefits. I now tell all my work comp clients to stay off social media pending resolution of their case.
Innocuous pictures can be used to suggest that an employee is lying about the nature and extent of their injury, which may give the insurance company support to deny Minnesota work comp employee benefits.
HIRE SOUTH ST. PAUL’S BEST WORKMAN’S COMP ATTORNEYS
If an insurance company is using your social media to deny you work comp employee benefits, your case is not over.
Despite what the insurance company may tell you, our St. Paul work comp employee benefits lawyer will make sure we secure the employee benefits you are entitled to.
Our South St. Paul work comp employee benefits lawyer will explain to a judge, at trial if needed, the truth behind the seemingly damaging pictures.
If you need to speak with a Minnesota work comp attorney about obtaining your Minnesota workers compensation employee benefits, please contact our St. Paul work comp employee benefits lawyer at 651-222-6603, for a free consultation.
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