One of the worst things that could ever happen to you is being involved in a workplace accident as it not only involves loss of wages and maybe hospitalization but you have to through the process of filing either a workers’ comp. or personal injury claim. Fortunately, in Ohio most employers are required to take out workers’ comp. insurance for their employees as long as they have at least one employee. If in the unlikely event your employer hasn’t taken out WC insurance your Columbus personal injury attorney may be able assist you to file a personal injury claim against your employer instead, if you are eligible. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Columbus One of the important things about choosing a WC or PI attorney is that you must only go for one who is fully licensed in Columbus to carry out this sort of legal work. There are around 400 to choose from in the city and you should ask how much recent experience of workers’ comp. claims your choice of attorney has as this assures you that the attorney is up-to-date on current WC law and if it’s a personal injury claim you are after you should ask if the attorney is fully experienced to take up your claim. Workers’ Compensation in Columbus Even the safest workplaces have accidents but there are some workplaces that are not as safe as others and in Columbus these are construction sites and industrial premises. Construction sites employ contractors as well as directly employing workers so often rules governing safety in these workplaces are commonly breached, such as failure to provide protective clothing and sufficient protection when working from a significant height above ground level. These breaches cause preventable accidents, like tripping and falling off unprotected scaffolding and electrocutions from stray wiring. Accidents in industries such as Columbus Steel Castings which is the biggest steel foundry in the country are unfortunately common. According to OSHA recently* a Columbus Castings worker broke his back, suffered a collapsed lung and partial paralysis to his left leg after becoming pinned in a machine at the steel foundry. In these cases a workers’ compensation lawyer in Columbus will be able to assist you to get the compensation you deserve and if you are not eligible for WC will work on your behalf to file a personal injury claim. The Workers’ Compensation Process in Columbus In Ohio, a workers’ comp. claim is usually automatic but there is still a time limit of 12 months from the date of the accident which you have to file the claim. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (OBWC) is responsible for all aspects of workers’ compensation and the headquarters can be found at 30 W Spring St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. Its normal opening hours are between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. If you need to file a personal injury claim, you are given 2 years from the date of the accident to do so. Your personal injury lawyer in Columbus will tell you which court to file the claim with but this is most likely to be the Franklin County Court, 373 South High Street, Columbus which is open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Attorney Once you have decided which type of compensation claim to pursue, whether it’s your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance or a personal injury claim, the right Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer can be found by completing our free claim evaluation form below. Don’t waste too much time beginning the claim’s process but get the ball rolling as soon as you can. You must not forget to heed the statute of limitations for whichever claim you are pursuing. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation in Ohio Denied Workers' Compensation in Ohio? *foundrymag.com/finishingmro/osha-cites-columbus-castings-april-incident
