Each year, American workers suffer debilitating and long-term illnesses and injuries arising from their work environment or other work-related injury. These work-related injuries and illnesses may cause lifetime impairment, including the inability to work. Affected employees may file workers’ compensation claims to seek financial recovery.

If you or a loved one has suffered a permanent disability due to a work-related injury, you deserve the benefits and compensation needed to support your future. Don’t navigate the claims process alone—enlist the help of a skilled attorney with experience filing Findlay permanent disability workers’ compensation claims. Our team of dedicated workers’ comp lawyers at Schaffer & Associates will stand up for your rights and fight for the payments you need and deserve.

What Constitutes an Occupational Disease?

Occupational diseases are common claims for workers’ compensation. A successful occupational disease claim requires a physician’s diagnosis of an occupational disease due to exposure at work. These claims can be difficult to prove. The guidance of a workers’ comp attorney with experience filing permanent disability claims in Findlay is essential to obtaining the fair financial compensation you deserve.

Work environment issues that can result in the development of occupational diseases include:

  • Dust, fumes, gas
  • Viral or bacterial infections
  • Radiation and radioactive waves
  • Chemicals or other toxic substances
  • Extreme noise, temperatures, pressure

Examples of common occupational diseases that require medical diagnosis include:

  • Firefighter and police officer respiratory and cardiovascular disease
  • Coal miner’s respiratory pneumoconiosis and asbestosis

Ohio lawmakers have adopted legal protections for the millions of workers who suffer the risk of occupational disease. A qualified workers’ compensation lawyer knows how these rules apply to your situation.

Brain Injuries in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Another way to sustain permanent disability is traumatic brain injuries at work. Head and brain injuries often lead to significant financial instability, making it challenging to fully compensate affected families.

Head and brain injuries are most common in the following fields of work:

  • Construction
  • Freight trucking
  • Building services industries.

Injuries may result from slips and falls, collisions with heavy objects, motor vehicle accidents, or operating heavy equipment or machinery. Such traumatic brain injuries may require life-long physical rehabilitation.

Proving a brain injury is work-related requires clear evidence, such as:

  • Medical records
  • Work reports
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Security camera images
  • Expenses related to the injury

Our permanent disability workers’ comp attorneys in Findlay know how to investigate claims, interview witnesses, and collect and preserve evidence for court and settlement negotiations. Our lawyers’ efforts allow you to focus on rest and healing.

Time Limitation for Filing Workers’ Compensation Claims

Ohio’s statute of limitations requires injured employees to file workers’ compensation claims within one year of the onset of disability or up to six months after the disease diagnosis.

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation determines the onset of disability as the earliest of:

  1. The date the disease was determined an occupational disease
  2. The date the injured worker received treatment for the disease
  3. The date the worker stopped working due to the disease

Hire a Local Workers’ Comp Attorney for Help Filing a Permanent Disability Claim in Findlay

Getting the financial compensation you deserve after suffering a permanent disability on the job is complicated and requires the support of a skilled legal representative. Our team at Schaffer & Associates can help you file a Findlay permanent disability workers’ compensation claim.

Call today to set up a consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.