Workers’ CompensationLawyers In Cincinnati
If you’ve been injured at work in Cincinnati, you deserve fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and recovery. Ohio’s workers’ compensation system can be complex, and employers or insurers may challenge your claim. A dedicated Cincinnati workers’ compensation lawyer can guide you through the process, protect your rights, and fight for the benefits you’re entitled to. Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, understands how important workers’ compensation benefits are when your injuries prevent you from earning your normal income. To discuss your case with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC at (513) 434-6698 or contact us online today.
table of contents
- Understanding Ohio Workers' Compensation
- Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
- Why Hire Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC to Handle My Case?
- Ohio Workers’ Compensation Statistics
- Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle
- Contact the Cincinnati Personal Injury Attorneys of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC
Understanding Ohio Workers' Compensation
Workers’ or workers compensation law is a form of insurance that protects employees when they sustain a work-related injury or illness. The laws governing how states handle workers’ compensation vary. Fortunately for workers in Ohio, employers must offer workers’ compensation to most employees. Make sure you receive the benefits you need by hiring a Cincinnati personal injury lawyer experienced in workers’ compensation if you get injured while doing your job.
Workplace accidents and illness are not only devastating to your health but also to your finances. Moreover, a workers’ compensation claim is filed when you must take time off work to recuperate. Consequently, you’re left wondering how you’re going to pay your bills and provide for your family. However, if you need workers’ compensation benefits but you’re not sure how to go about it, a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer can help you through the process. Additionally, they can take some of the burdens from you as you recover. Whether your claim was denied, your benefits are delayed, or you’re unsure where to start, our experienced team is ready to assist.
Justin Lawrence
Founding Partner
“The workers’ compensation carrier doesn’t think of an injured worker as a person. From day one, they look to limit their financial exposure. The statute and regulations are riddled with exceptions that are traps for the unwary practitioner. There is no substitute for experience when navigating a workers’ compensation case.”
Video Transcript
Hi this is Justin Lawrence with Lawrence and associates and we’re here today to talk about Ohio workers compensation. With me is Marissa Dyson another attorney of Lawrence and Associates and she practices in workers compensation in Ohio. She’s going to tell us a few things about what you can expect when you walk into an attorney’s office for a consultation. Marissa first can you tell the people watching the video what they can expect an attorney to ask them when they walk into an Ohio workers comp consultation. Sure, when you walk into a consultation to talk about your Ohio workers compensation claim first of all you’ll want to bring all of the paperwork that you’ve received from the Ohio BWC and/or your employer you can expect to bring that paperwork go over it with an attorney and the attorney will probably also ask you some questions. Okay what types of questions is an attorney gonna want to ask when they’re talking about whether or not you’re able to file an Ohio workers compensation claim so the attorney will ask questions first of all about what happened on the date of the injury they’re gonna ask how you got hurt they’re gonna want to know exactly how you’ve treated for that injury so what doctors you’ve gone to what kind of medication you’ve been on. They’re gonna want to know how the employer has acted and then they’re also gonna want to talk about previous medical history. They’re gonna want to know about medical history going back well before the time of the accident. All right when an injured worker walks into an attorney’s office for an Ohio workers compensation claim should they expect to have to fill out any paperwork when they’re in the consultation. Yes they should if the attorney thinks that it’s something that they can help you with they’re definitely gonna want you to sign a contract you’re gonna need to sign a contract for that attorney to represent you also they’ll have you fill out some forms from from the BWC. Those forms include something that will tell the BWC that they are in fact you’re an attorney your attorney and it will give them access to your online claimed humans. They’re also gonna ask you for some medical authorization so that they can get the medical documents that they need and then they’re also gonna have you fill out a few other forms that have to do with power of attorney and receiving checks so you just said something very interesting that I want to make sure that we cover. When a injured worker walks into an attorney’s office and has this consultation for an Ohio workers compensation claim should the injured worker expect the attorney to be able to tell them whether or not they’re taking the case? Yes the attorney should be able to give you a pretty good assessment of it, if it’s something that they think that they can help you out with they may not be able to give you hard and fast numbers of exactly what they think you’re going to receive but they should be able to tell you if it’s a claim that they think is compensable or something that they that you would need an attorneys help on. When an injured worker goes into an attorney’s office for an Ohio workers compensation claim should they have to bring any money with them to pay the attorney? That’s a great question. No they should never have to bring money with them at our firm we would never ask a client for a retainer we work on strict contingency fees for Ohio workers compensation and if you do go to an attorney who is wanting some kind of deposit to work on your claim I would suggest that you get a second opinion before you hire that attorney. When you go to a consultation as an injured worker should you expect to get to meet your attorney? Yes at Lawrence and Associates you’re almost always going to meet an attorney unless it’s some sort of extenuating circumstance all right and last thing when an injured worker goes into an attorney’s office and their case is accepted and they’ve signed all the paperwork in most cases or maybe the average case what should the injured worker expect the next steps to be mm-hmm so at Lawrence and associates what we would do is we would get your paperwork we would go ahead and file the appropriate documents with the BWC within one to two business days. Sometimes quit more quickly and then you’ll start to get calls from either an attorney or a paralegal about every two or three weeks. If you have any other questions about what to expect from a consultation with an attorney’s office on an Ohio workers’ compensation claim, visit our website.
Do I Need a Cincinnati Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
If your job has left you injured or sick, the financial impact could be devastating to you and your family. Injuries with a relatively smooth recovery time can still be costly in terms of initial treatment, ongoing medical expenses, and lost wages. For more severe injuries or long-term illnesses, the physical and financial impact can be exponentially more consequential. Workers’ comp supports workers during tough times; a lawyer secures access to vital benefits, aiding with:
- Medical Treatment
- Returning to Work
- Wage Replacement
- Survivors’ Benefits
Navigating medical treatment and rehab’s early stages is complex, and workers’ comp applications add a burden. For this reason, many families may not get around to filing for workers’ compensation. A top workers’ compensation attorney can help you collect the benefits you need and fight for a suitable settlement if necessary.
Why Hire Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC to Handle My Case?
The lawyers at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC have experience helping people in a variety of challenging and potentially life-altering situations. With offices in Ohio and Kentucky, we’re able to fight for workers’ rights across state lines. Regardless of location, we empathize with the impact of injuries on workers’ earnings and the financial strain it places on families.
Our legal team understands how hard it can be to reach out for help in the midst of difficult times. Workers in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are largely self-reliant, preferring to handle what they can independently. The workers’ compensation lawyer supports the self-reliance of Greater Cincinnati workers while supplying them with some added financial support so that they can return to their normal lives as soon as possible.
We work diligently to recover the benefits that workers need so that they don’t face serious financial struggles. Additionally, our workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that unless we can recover the benefits that you need, you won’t pay us. Having competent legal help for workers comp claims shouldn’t be inaccessible when you’re already in dire financial straits, and with the team at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, it’s not.
Our compassionate and experienced trial attorneys are here to give you a measure of justice and financial relief for what you’ve been through.
Ohio Workers’ Compensation Statistics
Many Ohio employees work in industries such as environmental technology, aerospace, agriculture, bioscience, and manufacturing. Nonetheless, despite the reliability of jobs in these sectors, no occupation is without its risks. The private sectors in Ohio with the highest reported rate of workplace incidents per year are as follows:
- Health Care — 4 incidents
- Agriculture — 3.8 incidents
- Manufacturing — 3.5 incidents
- Transportation — 3.4 incidents
- Construction — 3.2 incidents
- Wholesale — 2.9 incidents
Common workplace injuries include repetitive motion, chemical exposure, trips, strains, collisions, and fractures. The injuries experienced by workers will vary widely depending on their personal injury and their industry. No matter the situation, a lawyer helps injured workers pursue the benefits they need.
Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle
Our experienced legal team has offered support to many people seeking assistance with workers’ compensation over the years. Our experience has given us the ability to hone in on our clients’ needs based on their unique situation. Key to filing workers’ comp in Ohio: Know your employer’s coverage. Regarding workers’ compensation, employers in Ohio are either:
- Self-insured —These employers will directly pay employees who are granted workers’ compensation benefits.
- State-fund — State-fund employers pay regular insurance premiums to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. When someone files a claim, the BWC makes the payment instead of the employer.
- Private Insurance Carrier — In Kentucky, most employers purchase private workers’ compensation insurance on the open market. Making a claim with these carriers is more like making a claim with the automobile insurance of a negligent driver. They represent the other side in the injury, and generally act accordingly.
If you aren’t sure whether your employer participates in state-fund, workers comp benefits, or self-insured workers’ compensation, ask. Your employer can guide you on reporting and seeking medical care after a workplace injury. Make sure you collect the necessary information from your human resources department and follow the specific procedures. Your workers’ compensation benefits, depending on your specific injury or illness, will cover the following:
- Medical Costs — This often includes emergency care, doctors’ appointments, ongoing treatment, and prescriptions.
- Lost Wages — Depending on the severity of your condition, the amount of compensation provided by workers’ compensation will differ. Your injury or illness will be classified as either permanent partial disability, temporary total disability, or permanent total disability.
Based on your condition, a lawyer can ensure that you receive a fair and helpful amount for your situation.
Our Case Results
Can I choose my workers' comp doctor?
If you are filing an Ohio Workers’ Compensation claim, and if your employer has state-fund workers’ comp coverage, you are permitted to see any doctor you want for your first medical visit. After the first visit, you must choose from a list of BWC-certified doctors for any follow-up or ongoing care for your condition. Choosing not to be treated by a BWC-certified doctor, your benefits may not cover the cost of your medical expenses. If your employer is self-insured, discuss their requirements for the medical care that is covered under their workers’ compensation plan.
If you are filing a Kentucky Workers’ Compensation claim, most doctors will be acceptable to your Workers’ Compensation plan so long as the doctor is reasonably close to your home or work. The best thing you can do is call the doctor’s office ahead of the appointment, give them your Workers’ Compensation claim number and the adjuster’s phone number, and ask them to get pre-approval for the appointment.
What is an MCO?
For state-fund employers, a managed care organization is in charge of handling the medical details and return-to-work technicalities of your workers’ compensation claim. These details often include approvals for medical treatment, medical bill payment, and any medical referrals that you may need. To find your MCO, visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation website. Self-insured employers arrange and manage their own care plans.
Which steps should I take following a work injury?
Following a workplace injury, get the medical attention that you need and report your injury to your employer promptly. Be clear with your medical provider about your situation and tell them about your MCO if your employer has state-fund workers’ compensation benefits, or give them the name of the adjuster and the claim number if your employer has privately funded benefits. If your doctor prescribes medication, tell your pharmacist that the medication is related to a Kentucky or Ohio workers’ compensation claim.
Make sure that a workers’ compensation claim with your MCO or private carrier is filed, which you, your doctor, or your employer can do and it is generally best to seek advice from an attorney before filing. In Ohio, if your doctor files your claim, it must be submitted within 24 hours of your treatment. In addition to immediate medical care, reach out to a lawyer to make sure that you are receiving the care and benefits that your situation calls for.
Contact a Cincinnati Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
Seeking legal assistance after a workplace accident can simplify matters for employees and their families. The Cincinnati team at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC is committed to making the workers’ compensation benefits process as straightforward as possible and answer all of your questions. By keeping you aware of your rights, fighting for the benefits that you need, and offering much-needed support along the way, our attorneys strive to help Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky workers and families through difficult times. We leverage our legal expertise to provide assistance to families experiencing physical and financial challenges. To discuss your case, call Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC at (513) 434-6698 or contact us online today.
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