Our Ohio Workers’ Compensation Legal Team Advocate for Your Rights After a Paralysis Injury
Experiencing a workplace accident that leads to paralysis is a life-altering event filled with many complications. Clouding matters even further are the significant challenges to understanding your workers' comp rights to a just settlement.
If you or a loved one are in this unfortunate situation, our experienced Ohio workers’ compensation team at Monast Law Office will explain what types of benefits you could be eligible to receive and how to move forward with a benefits claim.
Common Workplace Accidents Leading to Paralysis
For more than 30 years, our firm has helped many people in various industries with these catastrophic injuries, and there are a few common scenarios we see often:
- Falls from heights. Construction, roofing, or window cleaning professionals are at high risk due to working at elevated heights. Falling from ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops can cause severe spinal injuries leading to paralysis.
- Machinery accidents. Manufacturing, agriculture, or industrial employees are in danger of getting entangled, crushed, or struck by machinery, which causes complicated arm, leg, and spinal cord injuries.
- Vehicle-related accidents. Drivers, delivery staff, and those in transportation roles are susceptible to collisions, overturns, or being struck by other vehicles.
- Electrical accidents. Electricians and construction workers are at risk of high-voltage electrical shocks, which can damage the central nervous system.
- Slip and falls. Slips, trips, and falls are common in almost any workplace, especially in areas where surfaces are poorly maintained. Falls on the same level can also cause spinal injuries.
- Heavy lifting or overexertion. Jobs that require manual handling of heavy objects, such as warehouse work or nursing, can lead to back injuries with the potential for paralysis.
- Struck by falling objects. Workers in warehouses, construction sites, and other environments where items are stored at height are at risk of being struck by falling objects, causing neck or spinal cord injuries.
Ohio Workers' Compensation for Permanent Paralysis
Paralysis, whether partial or total, due to a workplace injury is categorized under permanent total disability or permanent partial disability by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) system. Your classification for benefits primarily depends on the extent and nature of the paralysis.
Complete Paralysis
When you’re unable to return to any form of employment, the state’s workers' compensation system recognizes this as a permanent total disability, and you’re entitled to benefits for the rest of your life. These benefits are designed to compensate for your lost ability to earn an income and may also include medical expenses related to your injury.
Partial Paralysis
If some mobility or function remains, you may be classified under permanent partial disability. The benefits in such cases are typically a percentage of your wages before the injury and are calculated based on the severity of the disability and loss of body function.
Your Possibilities of Modified Work
A partial paralysis prognosis needn't mean the end of your work life. Many individuals with partial paralysis can return to work, often in modified roles or different capacities. Under Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4112-5-08, employers in Ohio are encouraged to provide reasonable accommodations to help workers with disabilities continue their employment.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for the best way to resume your job after experiencing partial paralysis. The likelihood and timing of your return largely hinge on your physical capabilities post-injury and the specific requirements of your position.
Some people may resume their former roles with modifications, which might range from ergonomic adjustments in the workspace to flexible hours. In other instances, the nature of the paralysis might require considering a different position within the same organization or even a career shift altogether.
A crucial part of returning to work is vocational rehabilitation services, often part of Ohio's workers' compensation benefits. These services are pivotal in equipping you with new skills and training, enabling a smoother transition into more suitable roles respective of your physical limitations. They also focus on enhancing your existing skills to adapt to new work environments or job responsibilities.
Trust Our Team at the Monast Law Office to Help Make Everything Clear
Each case is unique. At Monast Law Office, we’ll give you with specific guidance tailored to your situation. Beyond paralysis injuries, for example, many factors impact permanent total disability benefits, including your ability to obtain funds from Ohio’s Disabled Workers’ Relief Fund. We can also help you understand the BWC’s impairment ratings for permanent partial disability and how that affects your benefits and potential to return to work.
From filing paperwork and meeting deadlines to successful case resolution, our firm handles all aspects of your workers' compensation claim. We guide you through the process and handle all interactions with employers and the BWC, letting you focus on your recovery.
