How Do I Prove that My Injury is Work-Related?
Although Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is designed to make it easy for employees to receive benefits when they get injured on the job, there are a handful of stipulations for eligibility. One of these stipulations is that employees must be able to prove their injuries are work-related. While this won’t be an issue in some cases, in others, it will be necessary to hire a Columbus workmans comp lawyer to help prove your claim for benefits.
So, how do you prove that you got injured on the job? Here are some steps you can take to maximize your chances of collecting workers’ compensation benefits:
1. Report Your Injury to Your Employer Right Away
After getting injured on the job, you should report your injury to your employer right away. If your employer asks you to fill out an incident report, be sure to include as many details as possible. This will create a record of your injury that you can use when seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
2. Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
It is also important to seek medical treatment promptly after getting injured. If you tell your doctor how, when and where the accident happened, your medical records should reflect that your injury is work-related. Your health care provider may also go ahead and fill out the “Treatment Information” portion of the First Report of an Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI) form that you need to file with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC).
3. Write Down the Names of Any Co-Workers Who Witnessed Your Injury
If any of your co-workers witnessed your injury, write down their names and provide them to your Columbus workmans comp lawyer. If necessary, your lawyer can obtain statements from these co-workers to help establish your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
4. Make Note of All Other Details You Can Remember
In addition to writing down the names of any co-workers who witnessed your injury, you should also write down any other details you can remember. This will help when filling out your FROI form, and it will help you provide complete and accurate information if your employer disputes your claim or you need to file an appeal.
5. Hire a Columbus Workmans Comp Lawyer to Conduct an Investigation
In some cases, it will be necessary to collect additional evidence to prove that your injury is work-related. You will also need additional evidence if you have a claim outside of workers’ compensation. To ensure you have all of the evidence you need to seek maximum compensation for your work-related injury, you should hire a Columbus workmans comp lawyer as soon as possible.
Injured at Work in Columbus? Get a Free Consultation Today
Do you need help recovering compensation for a work-related injury in Columbus? If so, we can help. To speak with an experienced Columbus workmans comp lawyer in confidence, call 888-444-7440 or request a free consultation online now.