Put Our Experience To Work For You

Free Initial Consultations

Work-related injuries and workers’ rights

On Behalf of | Aug 8, 2017 | Serious Injuries |

Every year, thousands of individuals experience catastrophic — and even fatal — injuries while at work. Many of these injuries involve the loss of a limb, disfigurement and the loss of a bodily organ system, and can result in an employee’s permanent disability to work. Some injuries even require around-the-clock care and can hinder daily activities and general quality of life. In Ohio, there are injury and illness plans that help protect employees from such accidents and the overwhelming hospital bills that can occur as a result. However, it is important that workers understand their rights to better understand possible solutions in the case an accident does occur.

WKYC News reports that every week in Ohio, an employee dies in a work-related accident, and every year, hundreds more workers are injured on the job. There is current dispute on the level of protection the state offers companies and individual workers; many claim that the state focuses too heavily on protecting companies instead of workers who actually experience injuries on the job. Some citizens place blame on monetary issues, and accuse major companies of aligning with insurance companies to increase revenue. Companies with multiple violations of safety procedures are currently under the most public scrutiny for allowing employees to work under hazardous conditions.

When an accident occurs on the job, the law requires companies to immediately record the incident and take further action to protect the injured employee. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation provides information on the various types of compensation a worker can qualify for when an injury occurs. Among the types of compensation are temporary total compensation, which applies to workers who are totally disabled from work for a short period of time due to a work-related injury, and scheduled loss compensation. Scheduled loss applies to workers who experience permanent damage from work-related injuries, including amputations and loss of vision or hearing. There are many additional types of compensation that can apply to the type of injury a worker suffers, and although controversy surrounds the level of protection the state gives to workers, individuals may take legal action in the case of such tragic events.

FindLaw Network