If you suffer injuries or illness while at work, you should be able to receive workers’ compensation. Yet that is not always the case, as not all injured or ill workers automatically qualify for it. You have to meet the workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Findlay to get the financial assistance you need for the duration of your recovery.
To ensure that you qualify, you can speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. At Schaffer & Associates, we are familiar with Ohio’s workers’ compensation system and will help you determine whether you have a case. Our team can explore viable legal options to ensure you receive your full benefits.
Not all injured employees can claim workers’ compensation benefits. They must meet the following requirements:
Whether the compensation claim is filed with the BWC or self-funded through a private insurer, these conditions generally apply. In Findlay and the surrounding area, companies and insurers typically request this information to determine if a worker is eligible to claim compensation for an illness or injury. Our experienced attorneys will help you obtain all necessary documentation and assist you throughout the claims process.
In Findlay, the BWC and private insurers can deny a worker’s eligibility for claims on several grounds. These include late notification of diagnosis, late claim filing, lack of proof of injury or illness, employer disputes, and pre-existing medical or health conditions.
Others include non-work-related injury or illness, an employee engaging in “horseplay” during working hours, and an employee’s impaired or inebriated state while at work. If the insurance company providing coverage or the BWC determines that an employee did one or more of these, they will deny the claim, even if the worker’s state did not contribute to the injury or illness.
For instance, if a truck driver was involved in a crash while driving under the influence of alcohol, the trucker would be denied compensation, even if the other party caused the accident that led to their injuries.
Several compensatory benefits are available for injured workers, ranging from temporary total compensation to permanent total disability. The duration of benefit payments depends on the worker’s condition. For the most part, compensation will last from as little as six months up to the person’s death.
The BWC and private insurers in Findlay and the surrounding area typically stop paying compensability benefits when the worker begins working, attains maximum medical improvement, or enters into a lump-sum payment agreement under Section 32.
Other conditions include the employee’s failure to undergo mandatory medical examinations or treatments and the insurer’s 200-week cap on temporary total disability benefit payments.
Getting injured or ill while working is a terrible experience. You have to worry about getting better, providing for your family, paying your bills, keeping your house, and more. That is a lot for one person to handle.
If you need help with a workers’ eligibility issue, contact us now to schedule a consultation. As native Ohioans, born and raised in the northwest, Schaffer & Associates have helped many with workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Findlay, and we are ready to advocate for your compensation.