If you are injured on the job, you may decide to file for workers' compensation. If you are filing in Ohio, this process will take place with the following steps:
1) You will need to get medical assistance for your injury or illness. The medical practitioner can tell you the extent of your injuries, so you are fully aware of what you are dealing with.
2) You need to see what your company's policies are for workers' compensation, and then follow those procedures to begin filing. Make sure you follow the procedures exactly.
3) Make sure you keep track of all paperwork, photos, medical records, etc. associated with your injury.
4) You will then need to file something called a First Report of Injury, Occupational Disease, or Death.
5) You then need to complete a form that will allow your medical professionals to release you records. This is called an Authorization to Release Medical Information Form.
6) Once you've completed the initial steps of filing for workers' comp benefits, you will be given a claim number. This will allow you to look up the status of your claim.
7) Next, you will work with a claims service specialist. This specialist will collect information from both you and your employer. The specialist will use this information to assess your claim.
8) Within the next 28 days, the Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation will issue a decision that will allow or deny your claim.
9) Within 14 days after this decision is issued, you and your employer may file an appeal, if the decision is not satisfactory for either party.
If you've been injured on the job in Ohio, it is important to follow these steps as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less chance you have of filing a successful claim.
