Schaffer & Associates, LPA Practice Areas
The attorneys at Schaffer & Associates practice primarily in the areas of Ohio workers compensation, Social Security Disability, and personal injury. Our Toledo attorneys have decades of experience in their fields, so they are extremely knowledgeable in these areas of law.
When you’re facing an unexpected injury or illness that is preventing you from working, you can rest assured Schaffer & Associates will cover all your bases. It can be helpful to understand our areas of practice, including how they differ and how they fit together.
Workers’ Compensation
Work injuries can range from inconvenient to catastrophic, or even be fatal. No matter the severity, it’s important to always report work injuries in case you need to file a claim for compensation down the road. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) only allows employees to file a claim up to one year after their injury. While our Toledo workers compensation attorneys are able to file a First Report of Injury with the BWC, many of our clients find us after struggling to manage their claim alone for months or even years.
A work injury can be the beginning of a long road to recovery. Medication, surgery, and doctor appointment expenses are easily denied whether your employer is insured by the state of Ohio or administers its own workers’ compensation claims. A big job of a workers’ compensation attorney is to appeal the denial of these types of treatments, which often includes taking the request to hearing.
If you’re off work for an extended period of time due to your injury, your Schaffer & Associates attorney will make sure any lost wages are calculated and paid to you. In addition, we can help you obtain awards for permanent and temporary disabilities incurred from your injury, as well as workers’ compensation settlements.
Personal Injury
Personal injury cases can encompass a wide array of events. These types of injuries are caused by the negligence of another. From slip & falls and dog bites to car or industrial accidents, Schaffer & Associates will gladly assess any personal injury case free of charge.
Personal injuries have the potential to affect your health for the rest of your life, or even be fatal. This is just one reason why it’s important to discuss your or your loved one’s injury with a reputable personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer, or writing off the injury’s effects as temporary. In Ohio, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim.
Common qualifiable injuries include whiplash, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, PTSD, and more. These types of injuries will almost inevitably cause pain, suffering, and high medical expenses. In these situations, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
Social Security Disability
When a potential client calls our office for assistance with filing for Disability, our first step is to determine if they are a candidate for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSD), or both. Many people don’t know that there are different types of benefits, but it’s important to at least know the differences in eligibility.
Those who have not worked long or recently enough at a job that pays Social Security taxes are not likely to qualify for SSD. If you are suffering from a disability, but don’t have a strong work history, you may be a good candidate for SSI instead. To determine if one is eligible for SSI from a financial perspective, the entire household’s income and resources are considered. Our Toledo Social Security attorneys are happy to meet with you and assess your circumstances if you’re unsure.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will only let attorneys file an initial application for SSD (not SSI) on a client’s behalf. You can apply for SSI by calling your local Social Security Office. We encourage callers who are only eligible to file for SSI to keep in touch with our office in the case of a denial.
At Schaffer & Associates, we are happy to file initial applications for clients who appear to meet the qualifications to receive SSD Benefits. After submitting the application with relevant information, the waiting time for a decision is roughly three to five months. If the application is denied, there are a series of appeal processes that can span across a year or more.
Having an attorney manage your disability case is very beneficial for meeting the SSA’s deadlines, gathering medical records, and appearing before an Administrative Law Judge with representation. For our clients who have an existing workers’ compensation case and are also filing for Disability, related medical records are easier to obtain. This can sometimes simplify the application process.
Whether you’re just getting started, or have already received a denial, it’s a great idea to meet with an attorney to make sure your case is on track. At Schaffer & Associates, we work tirelessly to make sure you have the best chance of approval possible.
The Benefit of Having Multiple Practice Areas in One Firm
Our firm can be a one stop shop for many clients. We often find that a number of our workers’ compensation and personal injury clients eventually qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits. In addition, some workers’ compensation claims are also personal injury cases.
Sometimes a workers’ compensation case is complicated by a third party. For example, an on duty truck driver is in an accident while driving and injured by another driver. This scenario is where personal injury and workers’ compensation meet in what is known as a negligent third party claim. Additionally, if your injury means you have been or expect to be off work for a year or more, you may be a candidate for SSD. For our clients who have an existing workers’ compensation or personal injury case and are also filing for social security disability, related medical records are easier to obtain. This can sometimes simplify the disability application process.
Many situations often result in a client having two or more ongoing cases. At Schaffer & Associates, we’re able to synergistically tackle all of your cases to ensure your best interests are met.
Contact Our Toledo Attorneys Today
You can count on Schaffer & Associates whether you think you may have a personal injury, Social Security, or workers’ compensation case. Our dedicated and compassionate team is happy to evaluate your case/cases and ensure you receive any compensation or benefits that you’re entitled to. Contact us today for your free consultation.