As of September 29, 2017, House Bill 27 reduced the amount of time injured workers have to file a claim to one year from the date of the workplace injury or death in Ohio. For claims involving occupational disease, you have two years to file a claim. This is known as the statute of limitations.
That may seem like plenty of time. After all, why would you wait to apply for the benefits you need to pay for medical treatment and lost wages?
While most people file within the first few weeks or months after an accident, others delay their filing and jeopardize their claim. If you do not file a claim before the statute of limitations deadline, you no longer have the right to file a claim.
Why Injured Workers Delay Filing
When injured on the job, immediately report the accident to your employer and seek medical attention. Not doing so could hurt your claim before you've even filed. While those steps are essential, they're not the same as actually filing a claim for compensation.
I've found that injured workers sometimes delay filing a workers’ compensation claim and risk hitting the statute of limitations because:
- Fear of employer retaliation. Some workers are worried they'll be fired, demoted, or moved to a bad shift if they pursue claims, especially for injuries they hope go away on their own. Retaliatory actions are illegal, and fear of them shouldn't discourage you from applying for needed benefits.
- Fear of what people will think. If the injury seems minor, sometimes a worker doesn't want to be a whiner who complains about every little ache and pain. He or she may also worry about the stigma of being on “workmen’s comp” or that co-workers will treat him or her differently.
- Fear of missing work. Some employees worry if they take the time needed to treat their injuries, they'll lose wages they won’t be able to get back. Ohio workers’ comp authorizes payments for lost wages during the period of recovery, so a successful claim will help you more than toughing it out and working while injured. Continuing to work while hurt may lengthen your recovery time or lead to increased problems later. Remember, most of us aren't eighteen anymore: injuries we used to "walk off" take longer to heal as we age.
- Employer pressure. Some employers may encourage or even push injured workers to use their health insurance to pay for treatment. Some small business owners also tell injured employees not to file because their premiums will skyrocket, promising to “take care of them” through other means. Remember: you should have the benefits offered by Ohio workers’ compensation, and it's not up to your employer to decide how you take care of yourself.
- Waiting to see how severe the injury is. It's not uncommon for individuals to push themselves to work through injuries to see if they get better without treatment. However, filing the claim permits a doctor to request diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis, setting you on the road to health much more quickly.
Don’t let these reasons affect your filing. At Monast Law, we've helped hundreds--actually, thousands--of people just like you who have fears about filing claims, and we can help you, too.
Don't Delay, the Statute of Limitations Gives Strict Deadlines to File a Work Injury Claim in Ohio
A year can pass by quickly when recovering from a workplace accident, especially if you're hesitant to file. It's important to take action immediately when injured at work. If you were hurt, or your employer isn't cooperating fully, call me to schedule a free consultation. If I can help, I'll work quickly to make sure you meet the deadlines and present the most persuasive claim possible.
Meanwhile, request a download of my free book to learn what you need to know about workers’ comp in Ohio.
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