Dunkin’ Donuts claims that their coffee and light fare is what America runs on, but for one former employee, a fraudulent worker’s compensation claim has him running straight towards a category “D” felony for falsely obtaining benefits.
Joseph Briker, 49, filed for workers’ compensation benefits after claiming to suffer a severe back injury while employed at Dunkin’ Donuts. He claimed to have suffered permanent, partial disability that left him in pain and unable to work at the popular coffee chain. In addition to medical treatment, Bricker received benefits totaling more than $150,000 from March 2013 until May 2014.
However, Bricker’s fraudulent activity until the Hartford insurance company uncovered his failure to disclose a previous worked-related back injury while continuing to deny any pre-existing conditions multiple times. A further investigation revealed Bricker also engaged in strenuous physical activity while operating a handyman business while being put on physical restrictions by his doctor as part of his claim.
Unfortunately, fraudulent workers’ compensation claim are quite common. However, if you’ve been hurt on the job or during a work-sponsored event or function, that should not prevent you from filing a claim under the guidance of workmans compensation attorneys.
Workmans compensation attorneys understand the ins and out of the complexities of workers’ compensation law, and can help you successfully navigate the legal system.
Following an accident on the job, finding a lawyer maybe the last thing on your mind, however, choosing a lawyer who specializes in workers’ compensation law should be your top priority. Many people are often confused as to when to get a workers comp attorney and the answer is as soon as possible.
In fact, though worker’s compensation law varies from state to state, typically claims are highly time sensitive and must be filed within a designated period of time to be considered valid. As such, it’s important not to let the fraudulent actions of a few deter you from finding the right workmans comp attorney and filing a claim in order to get the compensation you deserve.