As the program is designed, workers’ compensation in Ohio covers all types of work-related injuries, occupational illnesses, and deaths on the job. Rules and regulations exist for helping workers who suffer physical injuries, lose limbs and digits, lose sight or hearing, develop cancer, or lose their lives while engaged in work-related activities.

Now, applications for workers’ comp benefits are not always granted. One reason for this is that the applicant requests the wrong type of workers compensation benefit. Preparing an application with the assistance of a workers’ compensation lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, will make it easier to avoid making such an error.

To understand how confusing many first-time applicants for workers’ comp benefits can find the process, consider this partial list of types of workers compensation benefits taken from the official Ohio Workers’ Compensation website:

  • Temporary Total (TT) Compensation: Compensates a worker who becomes disabled due to a work-related injury or occupational disease.
  • Permanent Partial (PP): Compensates an injured worker when a certain amount of permanent damage remains, such as the loss of your vision, hearing or an amputation caused by a work injury.
  • Percent of Permanent Partial (%PP): Compensates an injured worker when a percentage of lasting effects or permanent damage remains, such [as] a broken arm that can no longer extend to its fullest degree.
  • Lump Sum Advancement (LSA): LSA is the prepayment of future compensation for financial relief and rehabilitation purposes only. It compensates an injured worker for things such as household bills, installing a handicap lift in your van, etc.
  • Lump Sum Settlement (LSS): This is a written agreement that results in the closure of a claim, or part of a claim, as defined by the terms of the settlement agreement. An LSS agreement can be entered at an administrative level (BWC) or court level.
  • Facial Disfigurement (FD): This is a one-time award granted to the injured worker for visible damage to the face or head with the potential to impair the injured worker’s ability to secure or retain employment.
  • Death Claim (Survivor Benefit): A death claim is filed by the spouse or dependents of an injured worker who died because of an industrial (job-related) injury or occupational disease.

Then, while suing an employer for an injury, illness, or death on the job is rarely possible under state law, harmful incidents at work often do provide grounds for filing what are called third-party insurance claims. When faulty equipment, poor construction, or a driver not employed by the same company causes the harm, the victim has legal rights to pursue insurance claims or civil lawsuits that are separate from any workers’ comp claims. Consulting with a knowledgeable Columbus, Ohio-based workplace accident lawyer will make it clear if grounds for a third-party claim exist.

You can learn more about the types of workers’ comp claims by scheduling a free appointment with an Agee Clymer Mitchell & Portman attorney. The workers’ compensation lawyers in our Columbus, Ohio, are available to help workers and families throughout the state, so call us at (614) 678-3318 or connect with us online by completing this online contact form.