Do workers' comp lawyers actually handle denied claims?
Yes. Denied claims are one of the most common reasons injured workers call a workers' comp lawyer in the first place. When an insurance company issues a denial, it usually sends a letter citing a reason, like a dispute over whether the injury is work related, a missed deadline, or a disagreement with a medical opinion. A lawyer who handles these cases reviews the denial letter, the medical records, and the claims file to figure out whether the denial can be challenged.
Appealing a denial in California generally means filing an Application for Adjudication of Claim (DWC-WCAB Form 1) with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). This opens a case number and starts the formal dispute process, which can include mandatory settlement conferences and, if needed, a trial before a workers' compensation judge. Not every lawyer who advertises "workers' comp" actually litigates these appeals often, so it's worth asking directly how many denial cases they've taken to the WCAB recently.
This article is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice about your situation. Every case is different.
Yazdchi Law, P.C. — Eman Yazdchi, responsible attorney. Office: Palmdale, California. Attorney advertising.