What penalty does a self-insured employer face for denying a claim without proper documentation?

A self-insured employer can face a penalty of $5,000 for denying a claim without proper documentation. This penalty is established to encourage compliance with the rules and regulations governing workers' compensation claims in California. When an employer denies a claim, it is crucial that there is adequate documentation to substantiate the denial. Failure to provide such documentation can lead to the imposition of this penalty as a means to protect employees from unjustly denied claims and to ensure that all parties adhere to the appropriate procedural requirements in handling claims. This penalty serves both as a deterrent against frivolous denials and as a mechanism to promote fairness in the claims handling process.