Philip J. Fulton

Surprising reasons for a workers' compensation claim denial

By Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.

Ohio is home to many blue-collar employees who work extremely hard for a living. Manual laborers like those who drive the state's economy are particularly susceptible to injury due to the physical nature of their work. These workers are so dedicated to their jobs that they often try to ignore an injury so that they can continue performing.

In many cases, what seemed at first like a minor injury worsens to the point that an employee can no longer continue working without treatment. Naturally, filing a workers' compensation claim is the solution injured employees need. However, waiting too long to file can result in a claim denial, which is something many state workers do not realize. Other common yet often surprising reasons for a claim denial include the following.

The many risks faced by roofers

By Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Roofers have one of the most important jobs in any residential housing project. A home is only as stable and protected as the roof. It is literally the first line of defense against rain, hail, snow, ice, wind and much more. New roofs must be installed professionally and up to a very high set of standards, and roofs on established homes need to be replaced every 20 years or so.

As important as this job is, it's also incredibly dangerous. Let's take a look at some of the risks that roofers face on a daily basis:

Be aware of spinal injuries if you have a workplace accident

By Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in Spinal Cord Injury on Friday, October 2, 2020.

Think back to the times as a child that you landed awkwardly, falling out of trees or off horses, or getting crunched in a football tackle. Any of those incidents could have left you in a wheelchair if you had injured your spinal cord.

The more you learn about your spinal column, the more you realize you must avoid damaging it. The nerves contained in the spinal cord are a superhighway relaying messages to and from all parts of your body. Without those messages, your body will not function as it should.

Electricity can lead to workplace injury

By Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in workplace injuries on Thursday, September 17, 2020.

For construction workers, electricity is among the top four causes of workplace accidents. Yet, you do not have to be on a construction site to be at risk from an electrical accident. Almost every Ohio workplace has electricity cables running through its site. You could be sitting in your office chair and suffer an accident due to someone else's carelessness.

Office workers could still be at risk for injury

On behalf of Philip J. Fulton Law Office on Monday, September 7, 2020.

Many work-related injuries are the result of accidents that involve heavy equipment, tools, manual labor and more. You may assume that since you do not work in a dangerous environment that your risk of getting hurt on the job is slim. In reality, even office workers can suffer painful injuries that may require medical care and extensive time off.

Offices come with their own hazards. If you work at a desk or in an office of some type, you would be wise to understand the risks you face every time you go to work. While you may not work with machinery or have a high-risk job, you could still find yourself in a place where you need to file a workers' compensation claim. Every type of employee in Ohio should know how to stay safe at work and what to do in the event of an accident.

Can you cure a mental illness?

On behalf of Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Mental Conditions on Saturday, September 5, 2020.

When you get diagnosed with many physical issues, from disease to an injury, you know that there is a cure. It may take time. It may be expensive. You may have some lingering issues. But there are often things that doctors can do to cure you and get your life back on track.

With mental illness, though, the same is not always true. The doctor can make a diagnosis and tell you what options you have, but they may not be able to guarantee that you'll reach a point where you feel cured. This may be something that stays with you for the rest of your life.

Truckers face more injury and illness risks than road accidents

On behalf of Philip J. Fulton Law Office on Friday, September 4, 2020.

Commercial vehicle operators in Ohio haul cargo across state lines. They are at significant risk of suffering work-related injuries and illnesses, often while they are very far from home, familiar doctors and their employers. If you are one of the thousands of big rig operators in Ohio, you could be a perfect example of a driver living with chronic pain, although you have a clean crash record.

Your occupation's nature requires you to sit behind your truck's steering wheel for long hours, living on a poor diet and minimal exercise. Combining all the hazards you face makes your job one of the most dangerous in the country.

New legislation could reopen previously denied workers' comp claims

By Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in workers' compensation on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

For an injured worker, Ohio's workers' compensation system can feel unfair. In recent years, tens of thousands of state fund claims have been filed annually. A significant number of these claims ultimately wind up disallowed or dismissed.

Historically, one of the more common reasons for denial of temporary total disability (TTD) benefits has been voluntary abandonment. A new law, however, opens the door for some injured workers - denied due to voluntary abandonment - to potentially reapply for benefits.

What determines if an amputated body part can be reattached?

On behalf of Philip J. Fulton Law Office posted in workplace injuries on Friday, August 21, 2020.

Accidental amputations can happen in a split second for those working with power tools, heavy machinery and in many other settings. They are rare, as far as injuries are concerned, but very serious.

In some cases, the body part that was amputated can be reattached. It is important to act quickly, however, and seek proper medical care right away. Every minute that passes makes reattachment less likely.

Do women have a more difficult time securing disability benefits?

On behalf of Philip J. Fulton Law Office on Monday, August 10, 2020.

Disability benefits are for those who are unable to work because of a medical issue, such as a mental disorder, physical injury or illness. If the state of your health keeps you from going to work and earning enough income to support yourself, you could be eligible for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. In the past, more men than women received Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

If you are an Ohio woman applying for disability benefits, it may interest you to learn about the application process and whether you are at a disadvantage because of your gender. While the SSA cannot discriminate in the decision-making process because of gender, the number of male disability recipients greatly outnumbered female applicants for decades. The application process can be complex and frustrating, but you do not have to navigate it alone.