Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Ohio

Ohio Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If you’ve been injured on the job, you are likely suffering from a physical disability, mental stress, and financial hardship. Fortunately, workers’ comp benefits can help you get through this difficult time in your life and pay for your medical care and lost wages.

Since workers’ compensation benefits can be difficult to understand and the process of filing a claim is complex, it’s imperative that you consult an Ohio workers’ compensation attorney at Kisling, Nestico & Redick immediately following your injury.

Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a confidential consultation.

Who Is Eligible for Ohio Workers’ Compensation?

In order to collect Ohio workers’ compensation benefits, you must meet the following requirements:

• You work for an employer who pays into the Ohio workers’ compensation system.
• You sustained an injury at work or while performing work-related duties.
• You have medical documentation that proves your injury occurred as the result of a work-related incident.
• You submit the required paperwork by applicable deadlines.

Ohio Workers’ Comp Disability Benefits

If you suffer permanent damage to a body part because of a work-related injury or an occupational disease, you may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits. There are two types of disability benefits: percentage and scheduled losses.

To apply for the award, you must file an Application for Determination of the Percentage of Permanent Partial Disability or Increase of Permanent Partial Disability (C-92), which can be found online at bwc.ohio.gov.

Types of Ohio Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Ohio offers a number of different compensation benefits to injured workers. If you’ve been injured at work, the type of benefits you are eligible for are dependent on your medical treatments, physical limitations, and ability to work. Here is a brief overview of all of the benefits available:

• Temporary Total (TT) Compensation – If you are unable to work for a short period of time due to your injury, temporary total compensation will cover your lost wages. You may qualify for this payment if you miss more than seven days of work.
• Permanent Partial (PP) Compensation – The purpose of permanent partial compensation is to pay for any permanent limitations you may face after a workplace injury.
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Compensation – In the event that your injury prevents you from ever being able to work again, permanent total disability compensation will pay for an amount of lost wages for the rest of your life.
• Scheduled Loss (SL) – You may be compensated a specified amount for permanent damage or loss of a body part resulting from your work injury. This is common for amputations, loss of use, loss of vision, and loss of hearing.
• Facial Disfigurement (FD) – A one-time monetary award may be made when there is visible damage to the head or face as the result of a work injury. The maximum amount payable for FD is $10,000, which may be paid in a lump sum. Minor injuries are paid at lower amounts.
• Wage Loss (WL) Compensation – If your injury forces you to return to work at a lower paying position or if you cannot find a job that you can perform with your physical limitations, you may be eligible for wage loss compensation.
• Living Maintenance Compensation – Living maintenance compensation may be right for you if you are involved in a rehab program. This takes the place of temporary total compensation.
• Change of Occupation (COA) – Injured workers who have to change their occupations because of injuries may qualify for COA compensation. This may include workers who contract cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases due to their work environments.
• Payment of Medical Bills – Any medical bills that your injury has left you with can be covered as long as they are pre-authorized.
• Death Claims – Dependents may be entitled to compensation if their loved one is fatally injured while on the job. Death benefits are paid to dependents based on their level of dependency upon the deceased worker.
• Settlement – A lump sum, one-time payment is known as a settlement and can be negotiated with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation or your employer. This would discontinue any type of compensation you agree to settle. You may settle all or part of your workers’ compensation claim.

When to File an Ohio Workers’ Comp Benefits Claim?

In the past, injured Ohio employees had two years from the date of their injury to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, as of October 2017, any injured employee in Ohio must file a claim within one year of their injury.

The Ohio Legislature has restricted the amount of time you have to file a claim in an effort to reduce the number of claims filed, minimize the strain on employers, and decrease the amount of questionable claims submitted.

It is essential to note that this new one-year statute of limitations does not apply to Occupational Disease (OD) claims or Violation of Specific Safety Requirements (VSSR) applications.

How to File an Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claim?

As soon as you get injured at work, you should report your injury to your employer. Next, visit the doctor to receive medical treatment. In the event your injury requires emergency treatment, go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care clinic.

Once you’ve notified your employer of your injury and received medical care, you should contact one of our highly skilled Ohio workers’ compensation attorneys. They can guide you through the process of filing a claim and ensure that you meet all deadlines properly.

Why Hire KNR to Assist with Your Workers’ Comp Claim

Securing workers’ comp benefits in Ohio is a complicated process. Therefore, if you’ve been injured on the job, you owe it to yourself to hire a highly skilled workers’ comp lawyer at Kisling, Nestico, & Redick. An attorney can guide you through the entire process and help you fill out the required paperwork, present the right evidence to the judge, and comply with specific time limitations.

By making it a priority to obtain legal representation for your workers’ comp claim, you can ensure that you receive all of the benefits you are entitled to and avoid a claim denial. Additionally, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that your claim is completed correctly, a fair settlement will be negotiated, you’ll receive the maximum benefits that you deserve, your medical bills will be paid, and your entire claim will run smoothly.

Talk With a Workers’ Comp Attorney Today

Kisling, Nestico, & Redick has years of experience helping injured workers in Ohio secure the benefits they are entitled to. Our experienced workers’ comp lawyers will make sure that your rights are protected and you can move on from this roadblock in your life.

Call us as soon as possible at 1-800-HURT-NOW or contact us online.