Workers in Ohio who are injured while working are entitled to a number of benefits under the state’s workers’ compensation laws. Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has published a pledge of the rights to which an injured worker is entitled. This post will summarize those rights with one caveat: the entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits and the amount of those benefits may often involve complicated legal, factual or medical questions for which professional assistance may be required.
Every worker has the fundamental right to receive workers’ compensation, including lost wages and payment of medical expenses, for a work-related injury or disease. Injured workers are entitled to prompt access to necessary health care and to have the charges for such services paid by the workers’ compensation system. All BWC employees are required to provide injured workers with prompt and courteous service in the processing of their claims for benefits. Injured workers have the right to be considered for any and all benefits for which they may be eligible and to receive timely payment of benefits for all allowed conditions in the claim.
The workers’ compensation also provides important procedural rights. An injured worker has the right to obtain his or her records either in person or over the internet. Applicants for workers compensation benefits have the right to either represent themselves or to retain the attorney of their choice (at their own expense).
This pledge provides an important base line for injured workers who seek workers compensation benefits. Nevertheless, an injured worker may wish to consult an attorney who specializes in handling workers compensation claims. Such a consultation can provide essential information about the claim and applicable legal principles and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering benefits.
Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, “Injured Worker Pledge of Service,” accessed on Dec. 26, 2016