Ohio Workers’ Compensation Laws: 2025 Update

When you get injured on the job in Ohio, filing a workers’ compensation claim can be critical for avoiding financial issues. Regardless of whether you have health insurance, getting the treatment you need can be expensive, and if your injuries prevent you from working, your other bills could add up quickly as well. Learn what you need to know about filing a claim in 2025 from the Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Malek & Malek Law Firm:

Deadline to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Under Ohio law, you have one year to file a “notice of injury” with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) when you get injured on the job. If you are dealing with an occupational illness, you have one year from the date you receive a diagnosis or begin treatment (in most cases). If you wait too long to file your workers’ compensation claim with the BWC, you will lose your right to benefits.

With that said, collecting benefits can become much more difficult if you do not report your injury or illness right away. As a result, if you think you may be entitled to benefits, we strongly recommend that you speak with one of our Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers as soon as possible.

Filing a Claim with a “Self-Insured” Employer

While most employers in Ohio participate in the BWC’s state-run workers’ compensation program, some employers (mostly large companies) “self-insure” for their employees’ workers’ compensation claims. If your employer is self-insured, you will need to file your workers’ compensation claim directly with your employer instead of filing with the BWC.

Choosing a Medical Provider to Treat Your Work-Related Injury or Illness

Along with reporting your injury or illness, you should also seek treatment for your work-related injury or illness as soon as possible. Under Ohio law, you have the right to choose your own medical provider—and it is important that you do so. As the BWC explains:

“As an employee who has been injured [or gotten sick] on the job, you have the right to choose your own medical provider. If the doctor you initially see is certified by BWC, you can continue to see them. You can choose a different medical provider if you prefer, as long as they are also BWC-certified. . . . Except in the case of an emergency or for your first visit, you will be responsible for paying your own medical bills if you choose a medical provider who is not BWC-certified.”

Any medical provider you choose should be able to tell you whether they are certified with the BWC. If your current medical provider is not BWC-certified, you will want to choose another provider to treat your job-related injury or illness so that the costs of your treatment will be covered.

Eligibility for Medical Benefits Through Workers’ Compensation

As a general rule, only employees qualify to file for workers’ compensation in Ohio. If you are a qualifying employee, then you are eligible for medical benefits from the day you get sick or injured on the job. Your medical benefits (which should fully cover the costs of diagnosing and treating your sickness or injury) should continue until you have fully healed or reached the stage of maximum medical improvement (MMI). If you will never be able to fully heal, you may be eligible for therapy, retraining or other benefits.  

Eligibility for Disability Benefits Through Workers’ Compensation

Disability benefits cover a portion of your lost earnings while you are unable to work due to a job-related injury or illness. These benefits begin on the eighth day that you are unable to work unless you are unable to work for 14 or more consecutive days. As the BWC also explains:

“BWC will pay temporary total (TT) [disability benefits] beginning on day eight when [an] injured worker is disabled for more than seven days, but less than 14 consecutive days . . . . If the injured worker becomes disabled for 14 or more consecutive (calendar) days due to the same work-related injury, BWC will pay TT for the first seven days of disability . . . .”

With this in mind, it is important to keep track of the days you miss from work—and to make sure you receive disability benefits for the first week you missed if you miss work for two weeks or more. If you will be unable to work or restricted to light duty work on a long-term basis, you may be eligible for permanent partial (PP) or permanent total (PT) disability benefits as well.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim with the BWC in Ohio

In 2025, you have the option of filing your workers’ compensation claim with the BWC by phone, by mail or online. Whichever option you choose, it will be important to ensure that you include all required information, and you will want to keep a copy of your claim for your records.

If your employer is self-insured, you will need to adhere to your employer’s filing policies. Here, too, it is important to be both accurate and thorough. Our Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers can assist with preparing and filing your claim whether you need to file with your employer or the BWC.

Appealing a Denial or Termination of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Ohio

If you believe that you have been wrongfully denied workers’ compensation benefits in Ohio, or if you believe that the BWC or your employer has terminated your benefits prematurely, you have the right to file an appeal. Since this is a formal legal process that has significant financial implications, it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side.

Contact Our Columbus Workers’ Compensation Lawyers to Learn More

If you need to know more about seeking benefits for a job-related injury or illness in Ohio, our Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers are available to speak with you. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can reach you online today.