Workers Compensation in Cincinnati, OH
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Ohio state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Ohio workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Cincinnati, Ohio?
While according to The Cincinnati Enquirer, labor and construction fatalities are on the rise in Cincinnati, the most common work-related injuries are repetitive stress injuries. These types of injuries happen when too much stress or strain is put on a certain part of the body. Usually when you repeat the same task over and over. These injuries can cause swelling, pain, tissue damage, and nerve damage. Office work, assembly lines, and construction can all be hotbeds of repetitive stress injuries.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Cincinnati, Ohio?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Ohio workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation mandates that all businesses, even those with single employees, must carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you are injured during a work-related activity in Cincinnati, you may be entitled to benefits such as medical treatment. As well as disability benefits to compensate for lost time and wages, rehabilitation and vocational retraining, and death benefits. You may only receive benefits regarding mental health in Cincinnati if you can provide evidence that the mental health claim is directly tied to the physical injury you sustained.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Ohio are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Ohio healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
The Ohio Workers’ Compensation Packet informs you that the key element if you have been injured in a work-related accident is time. If you sustain an injury while working it is imperative to inform your employer as soon as possible. You also need to seek medical treatment promptly. Taking quick, decisive action in these areas will allow you to navigate any future disputes, should they arise. Once you have received medical treatment it is always good to obtain 2 copies of the doctor’s assessment. 1 copy for your employer, and 1 copy for you.
Timeline and Other Information
After filing in Cincinnati, your employer must report your accident to their insurance provider. A decision to approve or deny your claim is typically made within 28 days. If approved, you may receive benefits equal to about 72% of your pre-injury salary for up to 12 weeks. After this period, benefits generally decrease to around 67% of your previous weekly wage.
Your employer should provide details about the claims process. An adjuster or insurance representative may contact you to discuss the incident and gather statements from any witnesses. During this time, the workers’ compensation insurer may start covering medical expenses while continuing to investigate your claim.
Why You Should Hire a Cincinnati, Ohio Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Cincinnati, Ohio, in others, it may be more difficult. Your employer might question if you suffer an injury on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Cincinnati workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Cincinnati, Ohio
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Cincinnati, Ohio you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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