It’s not easy to get back on your feet after becoming injured or ill at work. Insurance companies and employers often try to deny or minimize the workers compensation benefits paid to injured workers. To ensure that you’re treated fairly, it’s important to obtain legal counsel.
The Columbus workers compensation lawyer at Jones Law Group can simplify the process of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits if you or a loved one has been hurt on the job. Our workers compensation attorneys in Columbus, Ohio take pride in protecting our clients’ rights to obtain full compensation after an on-the-job accident.
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides compensation to workers who have sustained a work-related injury or contracted an occupational disease, no matter who caused the accident. Anyone who sustains an on-the-job injury is entitled to receive workers’ compensation from the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) in Ohio. Ohio law requires employers to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for all employees. Ohio employers are either state-fund or self-insured. Self-insured employers pay workers’ compensation benefits directly to their employees, while state-fund employers pay an insurance premium to the BWC.
Injuries may result from accidents, inadequate training, dangerous working environments, or faulty machinery. However, employees are not required to prove the reason why their injury occurred, as it is a no-fault system that compensates workers without regard to negligence. Workers compensation cases may involve injuries stemming from a sudden accident, repetitive motion trauma, or any illness related to the nature of a worker’s job.
The Ohio Workers Compensation program sets three principal requirements for being approved to receive benefits:
A few other basic requirements apply, including getting injured or falling ill in Ohio and not being engaged in illegal activity at the time of the incident that gave rise to the worker’s comp claim. The in-state requirement should be taken seriously because each state government operates its own program for compensating injured or ill workers. For instance, people who live full time in Michigan but have jobs in Ohio would apply to Ohio Workers’ Compensation.
Consulting with a knowledgeable and experienced workers compensation lawyer in Columbus, Ohio will help you understand all the requirements. Top rated workers comp attorneys with Jones Law Group will focus on qualifying injuries and illnesses, as well as qualifying for benefits following a death on the job or because of an occupational disease.
You can get more information by calling one of our Columbus based workers comp lawyer at (614) 545-9998 or by connecting with us online by completing this contact form and sharing some of your story.
We feature a longer list of workers’ comp-eligible conditions elsewhere on our website. It includes the following:
The condition can result from a wide of causes so long as the incident occurs during work time and you were not breaking a law or explicitly violating safety rules. For instance, falling from a ladder, getting in a car accident caused by another driver while going on a sales call, or breathing in fumes while welding can all justify a workers comp claim. Speaking with an workers compensation attorney who has helped many other injured and ill employees will make it clear if your claim should qualify.
Two other things to keep in mind are that most employers have internal procedures in place for processing workers comp claims, and many first-time applications for workers comp benefits get rejected. Even if you go through your employer when filing for benefits, you have the right to seek advice and representation from a lawyer. Also, your right to appeal a denial of benefits with the assistance of a Columbus workers compensation attorney is guaranteed by law.
The Ohio Workers’ Compensation program applies all the same criteria to death benefits claims that it applies to claims for injuries or occupational diseases. The program will also consider claims for deaths to retired workers when the cause of death can be tied to an occupational disease. Statutes of limitations are enforced, and the person who files on behalf of a deceased worker must be a close family member. Partnering with a workers’ comp attorney in Columbus, Ohio, will help with meeting deadlines and establishing the right to act in a loved one’s place.
When an injury occurs, you must report the accident to your employer as soon as possible. Your employer can help you file the claim through their managed care organization (MCO). If you file your claim online, you will receive a claim number immediately. If you seek medical attention for your injury prior to filling a claim, be sure to tell the doctor that it is a workers’ compensation claim. The doctor is required to report the injury to the MCO within 24 hours of treatment. For the first visit, you can see any doctor but after that, you are recommended to visit a BWC certified healthcare provider.
Within 28 days of filing your claim, the BWC will decide whether to deny or allow your claim. If you disagree with the BWC’s decision, you can file an appeal within 14 days. If your claim is approved, you or the provider will be reimbursed for medical expenses. If you are unable to work for eight or more days as a result of your work-related injury, you will be paid a percentage of the wages you lost.
The Columbus workers compensation attorney at Jones Law Group do everything that is in our power to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. Call (614) 545-9998 or contact us online for a free consultation with our Ohio workers compensation lawyer if you or a loved one has been injured on the job.
When you sustain an injury at work, report it immediately to your employer.
Seek medical treatment for your injury as soon as possible. If you seek treatment prior to telling your employer about your injury, your provider must report the injury within 24 hours of treatment.
Your employer will help you file the claim with your managed care organization (MCO) online or in person. After you report your claim, you will receive an informational packet that includes a claim number. Use your claim number whenever you contact the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) or your MCO.
Respond to any inquiries from the BWC or your MCO to speed up the decision process and the receipt of benefits. Within 28 days of filing your claim, the BWC will decide whether to allow or deny your claim.
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