Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the largest state-operated Workers’ Compensation program in the U.S. Workers’ Compensation insurance started in the U.S. in 1911, while Ohio’s program began in 1912.
An employee who sustains a workplace injury or work-related occupational disease in Ohio is eligible for benefits under either the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation insurance program or their employer’s self-insured program. The self-insured corporate programs pay claims directly to the injured worker and their medical providers rather than through the insured program. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation provides compensation for medical expenses and lost income through its program, which administers all medical and lost-time work-related claims.
Below are some basics about workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Toledo. Contact our local workers’ compensation attorneys today if you have any questions or need help filing a claim.
Ohio state law provides that all employers must cover their employees, including part-time employees, for workers’ compensation in the event of work-related injuries. Domestic employees, such as nannies and gardeners, are an exception if they earn $160 or less in a calendar quarter. Workers’ compensation does not cover independent contractors; however, employers must not categorize employees as independent contractors to avoid workers’ compensation coverage. Think of this as the initial eligibility standard.
After meeting initial eligibility, injured workers in Toledo must take the following steps to file their workers’ compensation claim:
Sometimes, an employer will insist on denying a workers’ compensation claim. In other cases, the benefits offered may not cover all the injured person’s expenses and lost income. In either instance, hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney will improve your chances of recovering fair compensation.
You may be eligible for temporary or permanent disability benefits through your Toledo workers’ compensation claim. To qualify for temporary disability, you must be unable to return to work due to a workplace injury or disease. You will not receive benefits for the first week unless you cannot return to work for at least two weeks. Temporary disability benefits may require you to submit to a physical examination to determine whether there are specific permanent physical limitations due to the illness or injury.
You could receive lifetime disability benefits if you satisfy the following. First, you must completely lose the use of your eyes, hands, feet, legs, arms, or a combination of two. Second, the workplace injury or illness must cause you to be unable to return to any employment with the skills you have or may reasonably acquire.
Given the difficulty navigating the workers’ compensation claims process and proving the impact of the workplace injury, a worker who suffers workplace injuries or occupational disease should hire a local attorney with experience in the field.
Contact Schaffer & Associates to schedule a consultation with a lawyer to review your case. Our legal team knows and understands workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Toledo. We will represent your best interests for full and fair compensation based on your injuries. Call today.