TIPS THAT COULD HELP YOUR OHIO WORK INJURY CASE Part 1| Findlay, OH Work Injury Attorneys.

Everyone who has watched a courtroom drama has an idea of what court should be like. The imagined setting is a large, ornate courtroom presided over by a stern judge, with lawyers locked in heated battle in front of an engrossed jury.

That's not what you get in a workers' compensation case. The world of workers' compensation is a bureaucrat's dream.

In Toledo, the Industrial Commission is housed downtown in One Government Center. A large waiting area anchors the office, and a number of small rooms where cases are heard line the periphery.

Rather than having a judge preside over a case, a hearing officer will review the facts of each claim by reviewing medical reports and listening to lawyers or representatives of each party. In some cases, the hearing officer will take sworn testimony by the injured worker or from a representative of the employer. A finding may be issued on the spot, or the officer may take additional time to review all the evidence before coming to a decision.

It's not very dramatic, but obviously the outcome is important to the injured worker. Here's a very general description of how the process works and our suggestions about some issues you may want to consider:

Report the injury to your employer: Always make sure you tell your employer when you've been injured at work. Ask your employer to produce a written report about the incident. Whether or not your employer completes a written report, make sure you document the date and time of the injury, how it happened, where it happened, and whether there were witnesses. Do this even if you have to produce the report yourself. Also, keep all receipts and hospital records.

First Report of Injury Form: Complete a First Report of Injury form, which is called a FROI in the work comp world. Your employer is supposed to fill out the form, but if that doesn't happen, an attorney can help you. The form is crucial because it's the only way you can get a claim number on file with the Bureau of Workers' compensation. Without a claim number, your claim will go nowhere. So, complete a FROI as soon as possible. Generally, an injured worker has two years from the date of the injury to file a claim.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury at the workplace contact our Toledo, Ohio work injury attorneys to order your FREE copy of The Ohio Work Injury Book.