Waverly Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Ohio workers rely on the state workers’ compensation system to aid them when they are hurt on the job. While this system was created to benefit workers, getting what you need when you suffer a work-related injury is not as easy as it might seem.
The workers’ compensation attorneys at Plevin & Gallucci have helped Ohio workers navigate the workers’ compensation system for decades. From Waverly, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, Hillsboro, Jackson, and West Union to Cleveland and Columbus, our workers’ compensation attorneys know how to fight on behalf of injured workers and get results.
If you or a loved one was injured on the job in Waverly or anywhere in south central Ohio, contact the attorneys at Plevin & Gallucci today.
- Section 1 Waverly Workers’ Compensation Benefits
- Section 2 Waverly Workers’ Compensation Claims
- Section 3 Deadlines for Filing a Waverly Workers’ Compensation Claim
- Section 4 Types of Compensation
- Section 5 Denied Workers’ Compensation Claims
- Section 6 Workers’ Compensation Appeals in Waverly, OH
Waverly Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation was created to benefit both workers and employers. It allows injured workers to get compensation for their medical expenses while shielding employers from facing lawsuits from injured employees in most instances, who instead pursue a workers’ compensation claim.
Generally speaking, every employee has a right to receive compensation for medical expenses associated with treating a work-related injury. Workers’ compensation can also cover work-related illnesses.
It is important that you get whatever medical care is needed to best treat your injury. This can include, but is not limited to, emergency room care, follow-up visits, physical rehabilitation, and any prescribed medications. Your attorney will seek to have all of these costs paid for by your employer at no expense to you.
Additionally, injured workers may seek to recover all or some of the wages they lost while they were out of work to spare their families the hardship of lost income.
Waverly Workers’ Compensation Claims
There is a specific process that must be followed when you file a claim for workers’ compensation in Ohio. Here’s what you need to do when you are injured at work:
- Get medical attention. You have the right to choose your own doctor. Seeing a doctor will not only get you the medical attention you need; it will also provide documentation of your injuries that may help build a case for compensation.
- Report your injury immediately to your employer. Failing to do this may jeopardize your ability to get substantial compensation.
- Submit a claim to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). This begins with a First Report of Injury, which you should complete as soon as possible after the injury. Your doctor should be able to assist you with this form.
It’s important to remember that neither the BWC nor your employer is required to make you aware of all your options. Only your own attorney is on your side. It is vital to hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney BEFORE you file a claim with the BWC.
If your claim is approved, the BWC will assign you a claim number and an identification card. However, your employer may try to have your claim denied. You employer may argue that your injury was not work-related, or may say you did not file the proper forms, provide the appropriate documentation, or meet the applicable deadlines.
Remember, it is crucial to have an experienced workers’ compensation attorney on your case. Your attorney is obligated to act in your best interests at all times. Your employer is likely relying on a lawyer to represent it during the process. Shouldn’t you have your own? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Deadlines for Filing a Waverly Workers’ Compensation Claim
Under Ohio law, updated on September 29, 2017, you have just one year from the date of the injury, or the date you became unable to work, to file a workers’ compensation claim. If your claim involves a work-related illness, you have six months from the onset of symptoms.
You should not delay. The sooner you involve a lawyer in your case, the sooner we can begin building the strongest possible claim to bring forward.
Types of Compensation
There are many forms of compensation available to you through the Ohio workers’ compensation system. You may qualify for compensation regardless of whether or not you missed time from work as a result of your injury. Types of compensation include:
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- Wage Loss: This is compensation paid to an employee whose work-related injury directly results in an inability to collect the same wages as before the injury.
- Temporary Total: This is when an employee’s full weekly wage is paid for a short period of time in which the employee is completely disabled.
- Living Maintenance: This compensation is paid to an injured worker who is in an approved rehabilitation program.
- Permanent Partial: Permanent partial disability may be awarded if the residual impact of the injury has lasting effects that partially impede the ability to work. A worker cannot apply for these benefits until a window of time has passed since the initial injury.
There are other types of compensation available. The nature of your injury and your case will determine the compensation you are eligible to receive. When you hire Plevin & Gallucci, you can be assured that we will always seek the maximum possible compensation for you.
Denied Workers’ Compensation Claims
What do you do if your claim is denied?
A denial does not necessarily mean the end of the road for your claim. You can appeal the decision, but you must do so quickly.
If you haven’t already hired an attorney, this is the time to do it. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney like Plevin & Gallucci understands what it takes to build a successful appeal and the regulatory procedures that must be followed.
Workers’ Compensation Appeals in Waverly, OH
A denial of your claim must be sent to you in writing and it must give a reason for denying the claim. You must file your intent to appeal the denial within 14 days.
The state will schedule a hearing before the Industrial Commission of Ohio to hear arguments on the matter and reconsider the claim. You have a right to have an attorney present for this hearing, and it is in your best interest to do so. Your employer may also be present and may also bring an attorney. If you are represented by an attorney, your attorney will speak on your behalf.
It is important to be prepared for this hearing by compiling and making copies of all relevant paperwork and documentation of your injury, your expenses, and your lost work. Your attorney will help make sure the right information is presented to the Industrial Commission.
Contact a Waverly Workers’ Compensation Attorney
For 40 years, Plevin & Gallucci has been fighting on behalf of Ohio workers. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and diligence to tackle the workers’ compensation system on your behalf if you’ve been injured on the job.
The workers’ compensation system is complex, daunting and full of paperwork and deadlines. Our attorneys have been involved with workers’ compensation law in Ohio for decades. We know the deadlines and documentation required and our experience has given us strong insight into what makes for a successful case.
There is no cost and no obligation to speak with us about your situation. Call us at 1-855-4-PLEVIN to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer handling cases in Waverly, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, and throughout south central Ohio about your options.
