A Quick Guide to Workers’ Compensation

No one plans to be injured on the job, so when an injury happens, people often find themselves confused about what to do or what benefits or compensation they may receive. While one of the most important things to do is call an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in your area, there are a few steps that you can take after an injury to give yourself the best odds of winning issues that might arise in your claim.

What To Do After You Get Hurt

First, you should report your injury. Letting your employer know that you have been injured as soon as possible can set you up better in the long run. The more aware that your employer is of the situation and your intentions—the better and the less wiggle room they have to fight your claim. If possible, fill out an accident report and get a copy of that report for your records. Reporting your injury is not required to win a workers’ compensation claim, but it can help make winning the claim more likely.

Second, you should seek treatment as soon as possible after the injury. You may see the doctor of your choosing, but is best to go as soon as possible, so that proof of your injury is documented. Make sure that you describe your work incident to the doctor so that your accident is reflected in his or her records. Documentation that an injury occurred is one of the best ways to help you win allowance of your workers’ compensation claim.

Possible Benefits

There is often talk about the benefits that an individual should get when he/she is injured at work. The question that many injured workers asks is “what are those benefits?” In the broadest sense, workers’ compensation primarily covers three different things: 1) medical treatment; 2) lost time from work/reduction in wages; and 3) permanent partial disability.

The first of these categories is treatment. This refers to the coverage for your treatment by a doctor. If you are injured at work in Ohio, 100% of the bills for treatment and prescriptions related to your injury should be covered. If you are injured at work, you should not be responsible for any costs for treatment related to your injury, as there are no co-pays. Workers’ compensation does not always make it easy to get these bills covered, but treatment that can be demonstrated as related to a work injury should be paid under the system.

If your injury has caused you to lose time at work, you may be compensated for this lost income. Depending on your injury and the amount of time you must take off work, this lost income can be significant, so seeking compensation may be the right choice for you. You may also be able to pursue compensation if your income is limited because of your injury, even if you are able to continue working. For example, if you are forced to take reduced hours or a lesser paying job due to being injured, benefits may be available to you. Workers’ compensation generally offers three different kinds of benefits depending on your situation: temporary total disability, wage loss, and permanent total disability. An experienced attorney can help explain to you which of these benefits is appropriate for you and how best to obtain it.

Permanent Partial Disability is not exactly compensation for pain and suffering but it is compensation that may be available within the claim based on an understanding that persons who are injured suffer a monetary loss due to the ongoing problems related to a work injury.

With all of this being said, the most important thing to do after you have been injured on the job is to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. The steps mentioned above are only a few suggestions, working with a lawyer can help you make all of the necessary steps, best setting you up for success and receiving fair compensation.

If you or a loved on have been injured on the job in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, do not hesitate to contact an attorney at The Harris Firm today. We work exclusively in workers’ compensation and social security disability. We want to help you every step of the way.

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