Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is meant to provide you with financial assistance if you are hurt or become sick on the job. But this does not always happen as easily as it should. One missed deadline or a failure to submit a necessary form, and you could be left shouldering your medical bills at a time when you are not able to work.
Slater & Zurz understands your need for compensation following a workplace accident. Our talented team of Columbus workers’ compensation attorneys is committed to assisting our clients in obtaining benefits, so they can pay for their medical expenses and replace lost wages.
We can also help you if your loved one perishes in an accident at work, assisting you in obtaining compensation for your loved one’s funeral expenses and lost wages.
Workers’ compensation in Ohio should not be complicated, nor should it be a hassle to access these benefits provided by law. If you have concerns about your workers’ compensation claim, or if your claim is denied, contact Slater & Zurz.
Experienced Help with All Types of Workers’ Comp Claims
Without Ohio’s workers’ compensation programs, injured or ill employees would have to seek compensation by bringing a civil lawsuit against those responsible for their injuries.
This process is complicated and fraught with uncertainty. Instead, injured workers can file a claim with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) to seek benefits for their work-related injuries and illnesses.
You may have just been hurt and are confused about what to do next. Or perhaps your claim for benefits has recently been denied. No matter where you are in the workers’ compensation process, Slater & Zurz can guide you in obtaining benefits after:
- A slip and fall injury, a machinery accident, or an overexertion injury at work
- An illness following exposure to harmful or dangerous chemicals at work
- Permanent, disabling workplace injuries, such as loss-of-limb accidents
- The death of a loved one in a workplace accident
If you or a loved one was injured or killed on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Let Slater & Zurz help you get the benefits you deserve.
How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Ohio
A workers’ compensation claim begins after you have either suffered an injury on the job or become ill while at work. If your injury or illness is connected to your work environment or work activities, then workers’ compensation benefits are likely available to you. To access these benefits, you will need to follow these steps:
Get Medical Care and Follow-Up Treatment
If your injury or illness is serious, go to your local emergency room or schedule a visit with your primary care doctor as soon as you can. Serious injuries and illnesses can include those that are accompanied by profuse bleeding, numbness or tingling in your extremities, and loss of consciousness.
After you have received care to address any immediate threats to your health, make sure to keep any follow-up appointments your doctor requests. Take any prescribed medications as directed and abide by any physical restrictions your medical provider may place upon you.
If your injuries do not appear to be serious, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible to ensure you did not sustain any internal harm that is not yet resulting in symptoms. Visiting a medical provider ensures there is a record of your workplace injury, whether serious or mild.
Taking these steps is necessary not only to promote your recovery but also to give yourself the best chance of having your workers’ compensation claim approved.
Tell Your Employer About the Incident
After seeking medical attention, you will want to speak to your employer as soon as you can to inform them that you have been hurt or fallen ill while on the job. You may also explain where and how you were injured and note that you’ve sought medical treatment.
Ideally, you should inform your employer in writing so that there is tangible evidence you informed your employer. This evidence can be helpful if your employer thereafter fails to fulfill their obligations to you.
File Your Claim for Compensation with the BWC
Typically, your employer will file a claim for you with the BWC after notifying their workers’ compensation insurer. If your employer does not do this, then you, your workers’ comp attorney, or any other representative you may choose can submit the claim for you.
No matter who submits your workers’ compensation claim, it must be received by the BWC within one year of your accident. Claims received after this time may be denied.
Receive Your Workers’ Compensation for Workplace Accidents in Columbus
Once your claim has been submitted, the BWC and your employer’s insurer will evaluate your claim. If they determine your injury or illness is work-related, you will receive some or all of the following workers’ compensation benefits:
● A portion of your weekly wages for weeks that you miss from work ● Payment for your initial medical care
● Payment for follow-up treatments
● Permanent disability benefits if you cannot return to work even after treatment
Surviving family members of workers killed in workplace accidents may also receive workers’ compensation death benefits.
Our Columbus workers’ compensation attorneys at Slater & Zurz are committed to securing you the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. Contact Slater & Zurz today at (614)756-2714 to learn more about how we can fight for your rights.
Slater & Zurz: Your Columbus Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
There are many reasons to choose Slater & Zurz to help you with your workers’ compensation claim. When you hire us, you benefit from a firm that has:
- Over 30 years of experience as Columbus personal injury lawyers
- Secured multi-million dollar verdicts for numerous personal injury clients
- Over 800 five-star Google reviews left by satisfied clients
- Helped tens of thousands of injured Ohioans receive compensation
Learn the difference that Slater & Zurz workers’ compensation attorneys can make in your case. Call (614)756-2714 to schedule your initial consultation with us today.
No, non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, are not injuries that Ohio’s workers’ compensation program will cover. Only compensation for losses such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as death benefits to the family members of deceased workers, are authorized to be paid.
If you have significant pain and suffering, speak to your Ohio personal injury lawyer about your concerns and see what steps you might be able to take to get compensation for these losses.