Many people have the belief that to file Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claims, you have to have a serious or debilitating injury.

But that simply is not true.

You can file Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claims for any kind of workplace injury or illness. Whether or not the claim will be allowed remains to be seen, but you can definitely file a claim and pursue benefits.

Generally speaking, to file Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claims, you have to have been injured or developed an illness at or because of your job. This includes, but isn’t limited to, lifting injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, repetitive stresses or strains, exposure to chemicals, dust, smoke or other hazardous materials and more.

Sometimes, your injury won’t be debilitating or severe; if you think you have an injury from your job, it’s always best to file, as there are statutes of limitations to file claims.  In most situations, you only have one year to file an injury claim and two years to file an occupational disease claim in the state of Ohio, and the latter two year time will likely be reduced to one year in the near future.

In fact, many claims are denied because workers don’t file, believing the injury or illness will go away or heal and the window of opportunity to file the claim passes, or the worker is seen by a doctor using their own health insurance – which can cast doubt on the claim.   Unfortunately, any delays in seeking treatment, or not reporting the injury as being related to work can be used against you.

The best advice is, if you are injured or sickened at work, report it immediately – even if you don’t think you need to file a claim. The key is to report the injury and then, when you see a doctor, tell him or her the injury happened at work and how it happened.

The doctor’s notes can be critical to getting your claim approved, so it is always important to tell your doctor about your injury and what happened.

Consulting with a qualified attorney is also a good idea, when considering Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claims.

Connor Kimmet and Hafenstein LLP

If you have been injured or sickened at work, an expert workers’ compensation attorney can help you. We have a lawyer who will work for you and can answer your questions!