Ohio Work Comp Hearings: Why Your Lawyer Should be There

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is the State Insurance Fund that makes the initial determinations on employer claims for coverage. For the smaller types of claims such as those that only entail an urgent care or emergency room visit, the BWC will typically give a favorable decision. These types of claims would not require any more involvement from the employee or the employer. 

Workers’ Compensation Hearings 

The Ohio Industrial Commission (IC) will oversee hearings for matters in dispute, such as issues related to medical treatments, diagnostic testing and payments for claims of compensation. These hearings are typically held in a conference room rather than a courtroom and the hearing officer, an attorney who has been trained by the IC to decide over disputed matters, acts as the judge. The employer will be present with their legal representation and the injured employee will be present with their legal representation, which should be an attorney with experience in workers’ compensation claims. 

Your Work Comp Attorney Protects Your Rights

While these types of hearings are usually kept civil, they can be emotionally charged, especially if your employer is disputing your injuries or working capacity. In the event that this happens, your work comp lawyer will most certainly address this behavior and stand up for your rights. Your attorney will help to keep the hearing focused on the facts and not let an angry employer try to divert attention away with unfounded allegations. 

Schiff & Associates is an experienced workers’ compensation law firm, with a positive track record for more than 35 years. We have helped thousands of people in the state of Ohio to recover millions of dollars due to them under the law for workers’ compensation claims, personal injury lawsuits, car accident claims and many others. We work for you on a contingency basis, meaning you owe nothing until we make a recovery for you. 

Schiff & Associates understands how devastating an on-the-job injury can be. We represent you in all matters from administrative hearings to court appeals. Contact us to have a highly skilled attorney on your side to guide you through the complex system of workers’ compensation claims.