Don’t Go On The Price Is Right During a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Cathy Wrench Cashwell learned this the hard way. The former Fayetteville post office carrier claimed to have got hurt on the job lifting mail trays and had been collecting workers’ compensation checks since 2004. She said the shoulder injury had left her so disabled that she was unable to stand, sit, kneel, squat, climb, bend, reach, or grasp. But her purported claim was busted when she appeared on a 2009 episode of the show The Price is Right and spun the “big wheel” not once but twice.
According to an indictment filed in September 2011, Cashwell” raised her left arm above her head and gripped the handle with her left hand.” Taking a second chance at the heavy-duty wheel, she “raised both arms above her head and gripped the same handle with both hands.”
Her wheel spinning feat caught the attention of investigators, and she was called in for questioning. Denying her overjoyed appearance in her TV debut, she said to ABC news correspondent Cecilia Vegas, “I was hurting the whole time.”
Further investigation into Cashwell’s Facebook account showed her zip lining in 2010 with her husband on a carnival cruise. There were also pictures of two separate occasions where she was caught lifting heavy furniture and shopping bags using both her arms.
Investigators say that the woman knowingly lied when filing her workers’ compensation paperwork in 2011. In 2013, Cashwell pleaded guilty before the federal court for committing fraud.
This is not an isolated case of workers faking injuries to claim hefty compensations. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says that questionable compensation claims are up by nearly 24% from last year. ABC News reported more than 100 New York City Police Department officers who have been indicted for falsely claiming that they were suffering from disabling anxiety attacks and PTSD after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
One of the guilty, officer Vincent Lamantia claimed he was too depressed to return to work. Later he was caught online, vacationing in exotic places using his compensation money.
Workers’ compensation is given to employees to aid in their medical treatment or to make up for lost wages. It should be availed for with responsibility. Cashwell’s is a classic case that proves that bad karma catches up with you, no matter how hard you try to escape. While Cashwell’s workers’ compensation claim was totally unfair, she exposed herself by making this big mistake. There are many other fatal mistakes that can lead to a termination of your compensation benefits. Let’s take a look at these situations:
- You fail to follow the doctor’s orders: If you get injured at work, you may be advised medical treatment by a practitioner. If you fail to follow through on the order, you can be denied workers compensation benefit. The aim of providing compensation during your hurt period is to restore your health so that you may return to work and normal life as soon as possible. Neglecting to follow the doctor’s advice can point to a different intention on your part.
- You don’t get a medical exam as ordered by a doctor: If your employer feels you have healed enough to get back to work, he/she may order a medical exam. If you fail to comply, you could lose benefits.
- You are convicted or jailed: If you are convicted and don’t show up for a medical exam or a hearing repeatedly, the insurer might move to dismiss your compensation claim. If you prove that you have dependents that rely on your compensation funds, they might also lose compensation benefits.
- You return to work: If you are fit enough to work, it calls for a cancellation of benefits. Even if you haven’t returned to your original line of work, you are still earning an income. This disputes your claim that you need compensation to sustain you.
Workers’ compensation is every injured worker’s right. If you get injured on the job or contracted an ailment owing to your job, you are entitled to workers compensation. Skilled, compassionate, and experienced work injury attorneys can get you a fair compensation. With a trusted attorney by your side, you can focus on healing instead of on dealing with complex judicial and insurance systems.
The team at The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman are always ready to hear out your workers’ compensation case. Get a free consultation today by calling us at (856) 327-8899 or have your questions about workers compensation claim answered.
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If you are struggling to get workers’ compensation, our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman can help. Contact us today to speak to an attorney about your case.
