What do Workers’ Compensation law firms do to help their clients in Columbus, Ohio?
When an employee is injured in the scope of their employment by an anticipated and foreseeable risk of that employment, they’re eligible for benefits under the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law. A prerequisite to receiving benefits is that the injury must be reported to the employer. An injury might be sudden and immediate like a fall from a ladder, or it might be one that develops over time like a repetitive motion injury.
A knowledgeable and experienced Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer is needed for anything more than a minor injury. Aside from filing of forms to protect the injured person’s rights, the workers’ compensation attorney will develop all necessary medical evidence and reports necessary to document the nature and extent of a worker’s injury. The injured party can’t rely on the reports of physicians that the employer might send them to for an examination and evaluation. Like any other case, there are two sides to every story, and the injured person wants their side painted in the best light.
Aside from filing all proper paperwork, the Columbus workers’ compensation attorney is highly involved in obtaining certain benefits for the injured worker. These can include but not be limited to:
- Temporary total disability if the employee can’t return to work
- Wage loss benefits for any reduction in earnings
- Any permanent partial disability
- Permanent total disability if applicable
The Ohio workers’ compensation claims process can get very complicated very quickly. If a third party is responsible for an employee’s injuries, the case can become highly complex. A work injury might even become worse because of opposition to proper diagnostic testing or necessary medical treatment. Many claims are ultimately denied or dismissed. The Columbus workers’ compensation law firm develops a claim strategy so that their cases doesn’t end up like those others.
The Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law gives workers rights that they shouldn’t be afraid to invoke. Employers have physicians and attorneys who will challenge the validity of claims and any benefits that an injured worker might receive, particularly if the worker isn’t represented by a workers’ compensation attorney. The Columbus workers’ compensation law firm will represent an injured worker in front of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Industrial Commission and State of Ohio to assure that an injured employee received full benefits under the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law.