Look around you. If you’re at work, are you surrounded by at least four of your coworkers? If so, that means that in the state of Ohio, you are automatically covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Regardless of who was at fault – and you should be immediately suspicious if your boss tries to insinuate that you cannot receive compensation if they insist that you were at fault – you are entitled to receive workers’ comp benefits.
Workers’ comp ensures that you’re protected while you’re at work from any work-related injury or illness. It’s important to note that not all injuries are going to be visible or disfiguring; they can include damage from inhalants and even repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or pain from lifting and moving boxes.
As an employee in Ohio, you’ve got rights and it’s vital that you know what those rights are so you can successfully pursue maximum compensation for any injury or illnesses that you may sustain at work. Your employer is required to uphold your following rights:
- You have the right to file a claim through workers’ compensation if you suffered from illness or injury at your place of employment.
- You have the right to attain a lawyer if you get ill or injured, at no cost to you.
- You have the right to put into writing any disputes with anyone who may argue that you did not sustain injury or illness.
- You have the right to seek an Independent Medical Exam (IME) to prove your injury or illness at no cost to you.
Regardless of the type of employment you have and the type of workers’ comp insurance they provide (whether it’s state-fund employer or a self-insured employer), your rights are still valid. If your employer is self-insured, they may have to follow alternative steps after your injury or illness, including make sure you have quick and accessible medical care during working hours, help you fill out your workers’ comp application and benefit forms and review your claims in a timely manner, don’t delay your payment, and both keep an office in Ohio with at least one employee to help with the workers’ comp program and keep all documentation of claims at that location with approval from the BWC (Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation).
If you’ve suffered from injury or illness at work, it’s important that you have a lawyer on your side that understands all of the details of filing a workers’ comp claim. With over 40 years serving the greater Columbus, Ohio area, I am not only the lawyer you need, but the advocate you want fighting by your side. As your lawyer, you’ll have access to my personal cell phone 24/7 with any questions you may have. Please give me a call TODAY for your free initial consultation at 1 (877) 614-9524 and if you’ve been injured or sickened, I’ll Make Them Pay!®
