Cincinnati, Ohio, is a city full of hard workers. We take pride in our jobs, whether they are at the hospital, on the road, or in the classroom. However, we do not always expect the worst out of our jobs. When an accident happens, you may feel shocked, scared, and uncertain about the future. How will you provide for yourself and your family? How will you pay for your medical bills? What happens next?
At The Harris Firm, we’re here to answer all these questions and more. Workplace injuries can be unsettling and confusing. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers know how to navigate the complicated system, and that’s why we are solely dedicated to helping those who are injured on the job. Luckily, Ohio is one of the 37 states that requires all businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance. This allows us to help workers’ like you after they have been injured on the job.
Common Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries vary depending on your field of work. However, whether you were involved in a construction site accident or have repetitive stress injuries from your office environment, your employer is responsible for protecting you from work-related accidents. When they fail to protect you or when the safeguards in place fail, workers’ compensation coverage is required to cover lost wages and medical expenses.
Our Cincinnati workers’ compensation attorneys will help you secure benefits for work-related injuries such as these and more:
- Back, neck, head, and shoulder injuries
- Wrist, arm, and hand injuries
- Knee injuries
- Ankle, leg, and foot injuries
- Repetitive use injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Eye injuries
- Burns
- Sprains and strains
- Amputations
- Stress-related injuries such as heart attack
What is workers’ compensation and how can it help me?
Ohio law requires employers to provide all full-time and part-time employees with workers’ compensation coverage. Your employer may provide compensation through the state fund administered by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Other employers are self-insured, meaning they pay their own claims under the monitoring of the BWC.
Generally, employees who have sustained a work-related injury or illness can receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault. These benefits include compensation for workplace injuries and work-related occupational diseases. This compensation may be in the form of:
- Medical care including hospital and medical expenses needed to identify and treat your injury or illness
- Rehabilitation benefits for medical and therapeutic care, like physical therapy, which may be needed to help you cope with and recover from your injury or illness
- Disability benefits for wages lost while your injury or illness removed you from work
- Death benefits for the loved ones (spouse, child, parent, sibling, etc.) of a deceased worker
- Permanent Partial Disability benefits for the impairment related to your injury
What are my next steps?
If you’ve been injured on the job, there are several steps you should take following the accident:
- Seek care from a healthcare professional. Give a detailed and accurate description of your work accident to your physician. This is extremely important, as only injuries and diseases your doctor identifies as work-related will be covered by workers’ compensation. If your doctor decides you can return to work immediately, you should still file a claim.
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. State law requires that your employer provide you with all of the workers’ compensation forms you’ll need to complete. While it is not required, it is advisable to have this conversation as soon as possible.
- File a claim. If your employer accepts responsibility for your injury, you may gain the ability receive compensation for your lost wages. However, if they deny responsibility, you can appeal the decision.
It is in your best interest to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney before deciding on a course of action. We can help you determine how to obtain the best possible outcome for your individualized situation.
We’ll Get You the Compensation You Deserve—Pain-Free
At The Harris Firm, we combine small firm service with large firm capabilities to help injured workers. Our team approach means we’ll get multiple pairs of eyes on your case to ensure the best possible outcome for you. No matter what stage of the process you’re in, it’s never too late to give us a call.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job in the downtown Cincinnati area, contact the experienced attorneys at The Harris Firm today.