Oregon Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Denied and Disputed Claims

Getting hurt at work can turn your life upside down fast — one moment you're doing your job, the next you're managing pain, doctor visits, and mounting bills. Oregon's workers' compensation system is meant to help, but it's rule-heavy, deadline-driven, and built to protect insurers as much as workers. Getting through it successfully usually takes professional help.

Benefits Available Under Oregon Workers' Comp

Your entitlement to any of the following depends on your claim being accepted, which conditions are accepted, and your treating providers' opinions.

• Medical Services — Coverage for treatment related to your accepted injury or condition.
• Temporary Disability — Wage-replacement benefits (often called "time-loss") while you're unable to work due to your injury.
• Permanent Disability — Compensation for lasting impairment once your conditions have become medically stationary.
• Vocational Rehabilitation — Retraining or job-placement assistance if you can't return to your previous work.
• Survivor / Death Benefits — If you are a dependent, you may be due benefits if your loved one suffered a fatal work-related injury.

Types of Claims

The type of claim you have affects what you need to prove and how the insurer evaluates it.

• Industrial Injury — A single, identifiable work event that causes harm (for example, a fall, a lifting injury, an accident).
• Occupational Disease — A condition that develops over time due to workplace exposure or repeated activity, or series of injuries.

When Claims Go Wrong

Many workers come to us after a claim is denied, time-loss checks stop arriving, medical treatment is refused, or the insurer tries to close the claim before recovery. If that's happening to you, you're not alone — and it's often a sign you need someone who knows the rules working on your side.

Aldrich & Brunot brings more than 25 years of combined experience to handle denied and disputed Oregon workers' compensation claims. We handle deadlines, medical evidence, and insurer communications so you can focus on your health.

Denied Workers’ Compensation Claims

If the insurer denies your claim, it sends a denial letter explaining why. Insurers often argue that the injury was pre-existing, did not come from your work, was not reported properly, or lacks medical support.

A denial is not the end of your case. You can challenge it by requesting a hearing, generally within 60 days of the date on the Notice of Denial. We review the denial letter, your medical records and the insurer’s reasoning, then talk with you about whether to request a hearing.

Late or Incorrect Time-Loss Checks

Time-loss benefits replace part of your wages while your attending physician has you off work, or on modified work that pays less. Problems often start when the first check never arrives, payments stop without explanation, the insurer miscalculates your weekly wage, or the insurer says you are medically stationary too soon.

Because the insurer controls the payments, mistakes can go unnoticed. We compare your wage records, work restrictions and payment dates with what the insurer actually paid.

Denied Medical Treatment or Surgery

An accepted claim does not guarantee every treatment your doctor recommends. Insurers may deny surgery, physical therapy or diagnostic tests, limit referrals to specialists, argue that treatment is not related to your accepted condition, or rely on an insurer-arranged medical exam (IME) that disagrees with your doctor.

Oregon law requires the insurer to pay for medical care for the conditions your work injury caused, for as long as your injury or recovery requires. Once your condition is medically stationary, the care that is covered is more limited. If the insurer denies treatment, there are formal ways to challenge it. We review your medical records, your attending physician’s opinion and the IME report.

Claims Closed Too Soon

When the medical evidence shows your condition is medically stationary, meaning no further material improvement is expected from treatment or time, the insurer can close your claim with a Notice of Closure. Closure affects your time-loss benefits, any permanent disability award, vocational help and future medical care. It can happen while you are still in pain or unable to return to your regular job.

You can generally ask for reconsideration within 60 days of the date on the Notice of Closure, and you must do that before you can ask for a hearing. We check whether your impairment was rated correctly and whether any accepted conditions were left out.

Car and Truck Accidents While Working

A crash while driving for work is generally covered by workers’ compensation like any other on-the-job injury. That includes driving a company vehicle on the job, making deliveries, running an errand for your employer, driving between job sites and traveling for business. Ordinary commuting to and from work is usually not covered, though there are exceptions.

If a driver who does not work for your employer caused the crash, you may also have a claim against that driver’s insurance, which can pay for losses workers’ comp does not, such as pain and suffering. The workers’ comp insurer may be repaid from part of that recovery, so we coordinate both claims. Read more about traffic collisions at work.

Construction Site Injuries

Construction injuries often involve more than one claim, because general contractors, subcontractors, equipment makers and property owners may share responsibility. Learn more about construction accident claims.

Deadlines That Matter

Workers’ compensation deadlines are short, and missing one can cost you benefits or the right to challenge a decision. Common deadlines include:

• Reporting an injury: Report it to your employer in writing right away. Oregon law generally requires written notice within 90 days, and a later claim is allowed only in limited situations.
• Reporting an illness from work: An occupational disease claim generally must be filed within one year of when you learn of the illness or are disabled by it.
• The insurer’s decision: The insurer generally has 60 days after your employer learns of your claim to accept or deny it.
• Challenging a denial: Request a hearing within 60 days of the date on the Notice of Denial.
• Challenging a closure: Request reconsideration within 60 days of the date on the Notice of Closure.

Exceptions apply, so have a lawyer look at any letter from the insurer as soon as it arrives. See the full list of key deadlines.

Talk to an Oregon workers' compensation lawyer about what's happening with your claim. Call (503) 536-1737 or fill out our contact form.