If your employer carries workers' compensation insurance and you are hurt on the job, you should receive compensation to make up for lost wages while you recover from your injury.
However, if your workers' compensation claim does not proceed as it should, a Cincinnati workers' compensation lawyer may be able to obtain the compensation that you are entitled. At O'Connor, Acciani & Levy, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe us any legal fees unless we obtain a favorable verdict or settlement.
Contact our experienced personal injury attorneys to set up a 100 percent free consultation to review your claim with our experienced attorneys.
Examples of On-the-Job Injuries
There are a wide variety of injuries that give rise to workers' compensation claims, including:
- Fractured bones
- Head trauma
- Burns
- Amputations
- Respiratory problems
- Facial injuries
- Ligament damage
- Loss of hearing
There are certain industries where workers are at higher risk of suffering these kinds of injuries, particularly those where workers are very physically active or are required to operate heavy equipment, such as:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Truck driving
- Electrical contracting
- Commercial fishing
- Steel work
- Farming
- Health Care
If you work in any of these industries and have been injured, you may have a valid workers' compensation claim.
The injury could have been the result of one accident or repetitive actions that cause an injury over time. You may also be able to pursue compensation if work activities aggravated a preexisting health problem.
Our Cincinnati work injury lawyers will carefully review your claim to see if you are entitled to workers' compensation. If you have a valid claim, we will guide you through every step in the process.
Reasons Why a Workers' Compensation Claim is Denied
If you are injured at work, you might think that you are entitled to workers' compensation. However, your claim could be fully or partially denied by the Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation (BWC) for various reasons:
- The doctor who treats you could decide that you do not have a significant injury, even though you have significant pain.
- After being treated for a period of time, the doctor could decide that you are recovered and medically clear you to return to work.
- The doctor could decide that you are not responding to treatment like you should and you are exaggerating the injury.
- Your claim is successful but your employer appeals it because they think your injury did not take place at work. They could say that you suffered the injury somewhere else and are reporting it as a work injury.
If the BWC denies your claim for these or other reasons, you have 14 days from the date of the BWC Order to appeal the decision to the Industrial Commission of Ohio. You can complete an online form through the Industrial Commission Online Network or by filling out the written form, Notice of Appeal – IC-12.
The Industrial Commission will set up a District Level Hearing within 45 days of your appeal request. An Officer of the Commission will review written witness affidavits and deposition transcripts. Also, you and your employer, or its insurance company, can call witnesses to testify.
After the officer makes a decision, you or your employer can appeal it at the staff level. If either party is unhappy with the decision at this level, they can appeal to the commission level. However, the commission could decide not to hear the appeal.
If your workers' compensation claim is denied and you want to appeal, you should strongly consider having legal representation from a skilled lawyer in Cincinnati.
A workmen compensation lawyer at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy will thoroughly investigate your claim to make sure you present a strong case at each of your appeal hearings.
We have extensive knowledge of workers' compensation laws in Ohio and are prepared for the strategies employed by employers and insurance companies to deny fair compensation.
Compensation for an Ohio Workers' Compensation Claim
In Ohio, some of the most common workers' compensation benefits for injured workers include:
- Temporary total compensation – This is for workers who become temporarily 100 percent disabled because of their injury or occupational disease.
- Wage loss compensation – This is for workers who are restricted from performing all of their job functions because of their injury, causing a reduction in earnings.
- Permanent partial disability – This is where a worker receives a percentage of permanent partial disability because of ongoing impairment from an injury.
- Lump sum settlement – This is for injured workers who have agreed to settle their workers' compensation claim with their employer.
Unfortunately, you may have to fight with your employer to receive all of the benefits you are entitled. That is why you need tough legal representation from a Cincinnati workers' compensation attorney to have the best chance at receiving fair compensation.
At O'Connor, Acciani & Levy, our Cincinnati personal injury attorneys put our clients' best interests at the forefront of everything we do. A lawyer in your area could help you obtain the financial help you need to move forward after your workplace injury.
Retain the Services of a Cincinnati Workers' Compensation Attorney
Employers and their insurance companies do not always have their employees' best interests in mind, particularly when it comes to paying out workers' compensation.
That is why you need the help of a Cincinnati workers' compensation lawyer to fight for your rights. If we take on your case, our only goal is to obtain compensation for you.
Contact us today to learn more about your legal options. Your initial consultation is absolutely free and we do not charge legal fees unless we are successful.
