No. This is not accurate. An injured worker must file a claim within 1 year of the injury occurring or within 2 years of an occupational disease being diagnosed or be forever barred from the benefits afforded to injured workers. Obviously the sooner an injured worker notifies an employer and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation of their injury the better.

At Tayfel & Associates we use a contingency fee arrangement so there are no fees earned unless the issue we are handling are money issue such as lost wages or benefits that result from an impairment assessment.

Yes. You may see a physician of your choice who is certified by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to oversee workers’ compensation injuries. This physician will become the Physician of Record and may refer you to consultations or specialists as needed.

Temporary Total Disability is paid when an injured worker is temporarily, totally unable to do any work whatsoever. It will be paid once the claim is approved and once any applicable appeal periods have lapsed. Let us know your specific situation and we can assist you in better calculating when your benefits will be paid.

No. Ohio Law prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who files a claim for benefits related to a work injury. If you have been subject to retaliation up to and including termination, we will investigate and advise you of your next steps.

No, you do not need to go into great detail or over share with your employer about your medical care. You will want to follow the protocols of your employer to keep them informed of your ability or inability to work.

Your employer is required to treat all injured employees the same. Sometimes that is made easier by the terms of a contract for employment or collective bargaining agreement. Most often your Human Resources department or Union Stewart will be able to inform you how long you may be away from your position when injured and still return to that same position within the company.

If you and your physician are discussing the possibility of permanent restrictions after your injury, we will want to explore whether Vocational Rehabilitation could assist in your return to gainful employment. If you cannot return to any work, you may be eligible for Permanent Total Disability and perhaps Social Security Disability.

Unless set by Statute, all workers’ compensation payments to injured workers are paid at a percentage of gross wages received before the injury. We will want to ensure that all applicable wages and any extenuating circumstances are accounted for to ensure that the rate of payment of those benefits is made at the highest dollar amount allowable.

Medical providers will bill injured workers when they do not know the appropriate self-insured employer or Managed Care Organization to bill or on occasion until their bill is paid. Often times a telephone call to the billing company with your claim number and appropriate billing information will resolve the matter. If not, we will assist you and your medical providers in obtaining payment for services pre-approved and rendered.

While it is best to let your Pharmacist bill prescriptions to your workers’ compensation claim there are situations when that is not possible. In such situations you have 1 year from the date of purchase to seek reimbursement with the submission of the appropriate paperwork.