Cincinnati Workers' Compensation Law Blog

When an Ohioan is injured or ill and cannot work and as a result, needs Social Security Disability benefits, many factors determine whether they will be approved or denied. Often, the case does not fall on the merits, but on providing all the necessary information so the Social Security Administration (SSA) can make an informed decision. Before moving forward, it is critical to understand these basics, otherwise a viable application will be denied for lack of information.

Those who are applying must remember that the decision might take as long as five months. But, having all the proper information can speed the process.

State law enforcement is there to do the dangerous jobs, provide protection and help those who need it. They are also tasked with doing certain things that might seem to be drudgery, such as directing traffic. Regardless of the officer's assignment, simply being out and in uniform carries danger. Accidents and incidents can happen that lead to injuries and fatalities. Workers' compensation benefits are useful when there is an accident, so the injured person can receive treatment and be paid while recovering. Having legal assistance to get these benefits and to maximize them is often necessary.

An accident in which a law enforcement officer was hit by a car sent him to the hospital. The accident occurred at around 11 p.m. as the officer was directing traffic. A vehicle was approaching a flashing light at an intersection when the accident occurred. The officer, 51, is a 15-year veteran of law enforcement. He joined this department four years ago. He was flown by air for treatment at the hospital and reportedly had serious injuries. He was subsequently released and is continuing to recover at home. The 28-year-old driver remained at the scene. There are charges pending and the investigation is ongoing.

For workers who were injured on the job in Ohio, workers' compensation benefits can be a lifeline to cover their medical expenses and provide income while they are unable to work. Some workers, however, would like to settle their claim with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) and move on. Understanding important points about a settlement is key before deciding to take this step.

This settlement will be for a certain sum. Once the claim is settled, any payments -- medical and compensatory -- will be concluded, and there is no obligation to pay anything more regardless of the circumstances. There is no single way the BWC will determine the settlement amount. It is an amount that the BWC believes is reasonable to settle the case based on the injury, and the future for the injured party. All aspects, including medical and compensatory, will be factored in.

For Ohio workers who suffer an injury or condition on the job, their priority should be to get treatment and improve their health, so they can get back to work. Workers' compensation benefits are meant to provide that treatment and cover the wages of an injured worker. Certain issues, however, might be confusing to a worker. These should be understood to know what treatment they can get, and the circumstances under which it is received. One specific issue to understand is presumptive approval.

In some cases, if the worker is receiving treatment from a physician within 60 days of the injury, there will be presumed approval for the worker to be treated and get services for that injury. The most frequent kind of injuries that workers suffer from are musculoskeletal and soft tissue.