Home Depot Work Injury: What To Do

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With 80+ stores, warehouses, and offices that operate in Ohio, Home Depot provides 58.2 thousand jobs to our local economy. As experienced workers’ injury attorneys, we know injuries can and do happen in these settings. 

If you fall victim to a workplace accident while on the job at Home Depot, Schaffer and Associates may be able to help. In regard to workplace accidents, Home Depot’s employees may be likely to experience:

  • Forklift accidents
  • Slipping and falling
  • Lifting objects improperly and hurting their backs
  • Sustaining injuries from falling objects

Even when employers do their best to provide a safe workplace, accidents and oversight can happen.

If you or someone you love is injured as an employee of Home Depot, workers’ compensation should provide you with benefits to cover medical care and lost wages.

Dealing with a claim can feel stressful at a time when you need to recover from your injuries.

We’re here to help.

We have offices in Toledo and Findlay and are more than happy to help you through this challenging period in your life.

Contact us to speak to one of our experienced lawyers. 

What to Do If Injured on the Job While Working at Home Depot

Home Depot is a self-insured entity. Many large corporations choose to self-insure for various reasons. Your supervisor should provide details on the process for filing your workers’ compensation claim. If not, you can file a claim with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Repayment. 

If you’re injured while on the job or as a result of your duties, you’ll want to:

  • Notify your employer immediately of the injury and the incident that led to it. The faster you file a claim, the better. 
  • File your claim with your employer to the best of your ability with as much evidence as you can.
  • Seek medical attention. Your employer may request you seek treatment at a specific facility. However, in Ohio, you have free choice of physician if you need treatment.
  • Employers often approve or deny claims within a month of submitting your application, but this timeframe may vary.

If your claim is denied, it’s important to contact an attorney who has experience helping those who have been injured while working. Preparing for an appeal requires the strategic guidance of a lawyer who has experience in Ohio work injury law

Why Is an Attorney Helpful When Navigating a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Your workers’ compensation claim approval is not guaranteed. An attorney provides experience and legal counsel that can be critical to your claim. Your attorney can help you:

Understand your rights

  • File a claim
  • Appeal denials
  • Gather evidence 

Ohio has a no-fault workers’ compensation system, which means even if you’re at fault for the injury, it should not prohibit you from filing a claim.

As your attorney, we’ll help you through the claims process and ensure that you receive maximum compensation available for your claim.

Is Having Workers’ Compensation Mandatory in Ohio?

Yes. If a business has one or more employees, it’s required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Companies can choose to work with an insurance company to supply coverage or self-insure.

Major corporations, such as Home Depot, often self-insure.

How Do I Know If I Have an Ohio Workers’ Compensation Case?

According to Ohio Revised Statute 4123.01, employees can generally file a workers’ compensation claim if they sustain an injury or illness while on the job. Ohio is a no-fault state, which means that employees can file a claim regardless of whether their injuries were caused by their own negligence.

Even with all of this in mind, determining whether you have a case can be complicated. In some cases, injured workers do not qualify for workers’ compensation. You may not have a case if:

  • You were commuting to and from work
  • Intentionally injured yourself
  • Were intoxicated at the time of the accident
  • Were engaged in an altercation with another employee at the time of injury

A lawyer experienced in Home Depot work injury cases can review the details of your accident and injury to determine whether you have a case.

What Will Workers’ Compensation Cover?

If you’re injured while on the job, workers’ compensation can help cover the cost of:

  • Medical care, including emergency room visits, surgeries, hospitalization, prescriptions, and other related care.
  • Ongoing treatment if your injury or illness is severe and will require future treatment, such as physical therapy. 
  • Lost wages if you need time off to recover from your injury or illness.
  • Funeral expenses (if the accident or injury results in death). Survivors may also be entitled to benefits.

An attorney can help you understand which benefits you may be entitled to. 

How Long Will It Take for a Workers’ Compensation Claim to Be Approved?

Although timelines can vary, generally, the self-insured employer should make a decision on your claim within 30 days of filing the First Report of Injury form. 

Because Home Depot is self-insured, the BWC will not be involved in the initial approval or denial of your claim. Instead, you will likely be dealing with a third-party administrator. 

If they approve your claim, you may become eligible to receive financial compensation, medical care reimbursement or coverage, and vocational rehabilitation services.

If your claim is denied, a claim will have to be filed with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in order for a hearing will be scheduled with the Industrial Commission (IC). At this stage, having the help of an experienced injured workers attorney will be even more vital. Your attorney will help you prepare for the hearing and understand your next steps.

Although Ohio does allow certain businesses to be self-insured, employers are still required to provide coverage. The BWC oversees coverage for self-insured entities. If you are having difficulty with a claim, you do have the option to file a complaint with the Bureau.

Hiring An Attorney Who Can Help You Following An Injury While Working at Home Depot

If you were injured while working at Home Depot, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying your medical bills or how you will make up for the income you’ve lost because of your injury. 

At Schaffer & Associates, we have 30+ years of experience helping Ohioans just like you obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. We’ll review your case, help you understand your rights, and guide you through the claim process. 

You don’t have to walk this road alone.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a team member from Schaffer & Associates.