Why is it Important to Call a Workers, Compensation Lawyer if You Have Been Injured While Working in a Manufacturing Job or on a Construction Site in Delaware, Ohio?
Manufacturing facilities and construction sites in and around Delaware, Ohio, are dangerous places to work at. Employees in those types of jobs will likely be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits after suffering injuries. In a typical case, those benefits would consist of the following:
- Payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses.
- Temporary total disability benefits.
- Permanent partial disability benefits.
Protect Your Best Interests
Insurance companies aren’t in the business of giving money away though, and claims can be devalued or even denied. After suffering serious injuries at work, you’ll want to make sure that your right to maximum workers’ compensation benefits is protected and asserted. Retaining an experienced, respected and aggressive Delaware, Ohio, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) lawyer will operate to do just that.
What You Must Show
When a manufacturing or construction worker is injured at work, the workers’ compensation system in Ohio doesn’t require him or her to prove fault. The employee only needs to show the following:
- There was an employer and employee relationship.
- There was an accidental injury.
- It occurred during the course of the employee’s employment.
- It occurred in the scope of his or her employment.
Employers Must Be Held Accountable
Workers’ compensation laws are complex, and working a claim through the BWC is an intimidating endeavor. Financial pressures have compelled both employers and their insurers to pursue denials of benefits. Denial could leave an injured employee with the inability to pay their everyday household bills or seek care and treatment for their injuries. We’re aggressive in protecting the rights and interests of injured workers, and we hold employers accountable. Here are some of the common work-related injuries that we see in manufacturing and construction in and around Delaware, Ohio:
- Severe back and disc injuries.
- Spinal nerve damage.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Multiple fractures.
- Repetitive motion injuries.
- Shoulder and knee injuries.
- Occupational diseases from being exposed to dangerous substances and fumes.
Notice of Injury
Unlike most other states, Ohio has no set deadline for when an employee must give an employer written notice of an injury, but it’s strongly recommended that such notice be provided immediately after an injury. If the employer doesn’t have the appropriate form for written notice, one can be obtained off of the BWC website.
The Statute of Limitations
There is a deadline for when an injured worker can bring a claim in the BWC. Take notice that the time limit has been cut in half. It’s now one year from the date of the accident. Failure to file an appropriate claim with the BWC within one year of the date of an accident will operate to bar an individual from receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
You can expect the employer’s insurer and insurance defense attorneys to raise numerous defenses in attempts to cloud even meritorious workers’ compensation claims. If you were seriously injured at a manufacturing facility, a construction site or anywhere else in or around Delaware, Ohio, contact our offices at your earliest convenience to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. Our objective is to maximize any benefits that you might receive.