ABC’s of filing an Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claim
ALWAYS report your accident and injury to your employer and co-workers. Even if you believe the injury might be minor; make a report. Frequently, minor injuries turn out to be more severe than first thought. If you fail to make a report and wait several days, it may become difficult to convince others that the incident and injuries happened at work. If there is no one on the job to take a report, leave a note or call in to work and leave a message on the answering machine.
BE WILLING to seek medical help if you have any questions as to how seriously you are injured. Injuries are usually worse the day after your initial incident. Emergency Rooms are not always pleasant places because of the long waits. However, that treatment is important for your improvement as well as proving a contested injury. If no Emergency Department is available, look for an Urgent Care facility.
COMMUNICATE a complete history of your accident along with all suspected injuries. The history and the list of all body parts injured is very important both for getting you well and back to work as well as proving a contested injury. Frequently, injured employees are afraid to tell the medical provider that an injury occurred on a job for fear of being fired. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and federal laws protect you from that in most cases.
