Business

5 Things You Can Do After an Injury to Help Your Workers’ Comp Case

If you have suffered an injury while on the job, you may have the right to receive benefits from Ohio’s workers’ compensation (“workers comp”) system. Workers’ comp provides benefits to people who are unable to work because of work-related injuries. The system pays benefits regardless of who was at fault. All you have to do is demonstrate that you were injured in the course of doing your job. A Toledo workers comp lawyer can help you prepare a claim and advocate for your rights. Here are five steps to give your claim the best chance of succeeding.

1. Seek Medical Attention

The severity of your injuries will determine whether you should seek medical attention immediately or as soon as possible. Even if you don’t think your injuries are that bad, you should see a doctor. Some injuries take time to show all of their symptoms.

You have the right to choose your own doctor for your first visit. Be sure to tell the doctor that your injury is work-related.

2. Report Your Injury to Your Employer

You must report your injury to your employer before you can make a claim for workers’ comp benefits. Your employer might have specific procedures and forms that you must use. If you do not report your injury soon after it occurs, your employer and their insurance company might use that as justification for denying your claim.

3. Gather Evidence

The more evidence you can gather about your injuries and the accident, the better your chances of a successful workers’ comp claim:

  • If possible, take pictures of your injuries and the accident scene.
  • Make a list of people who witnessed the accident and could offer their testimony.
  • Write down everything you remember about the accident, including when, where, and how it happened.

4. Review Your Employer’s Workers’ Comp Coverage

You can obtain a copy of your employer’s procedures for workers’ comp claims from your supervisor or your employer’s human resources department. Your employer could have state-fund workers’ comp coverage, or they could be self-insured. Most employers use a managed care organization (MCO) to handle injured employees’ medical treatment and return-to-work services. While you can choose the doctor you see immediately after the accident, you might have to use a doctor affiliated with your employer’s MCO for further care.

5. Contact a Toledo Workers’ Compensation Attorney

You should contact a Toledo personal injury lawyer as soon as you can after your injuries. A lawyer can help you with all of the steps described here. You should not speak with your employer’s insurance provider before speaking to an attorney.

Do you need help with a workers’ compensation case in Ohio? The Toledo personal injury attorneys at Spitler & Williams-Young are here to advise you of your rights and options and prepare the best legal strategy for your case. Please contact us today at info@spitlerwilliams-young.law or 419-863-2211.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *