Yesterday, I received a call from a prospective client regarding a workers’ compensation claim. This injured worker stated that the employer stated that it did not have any BWC coverage, so a claim should not be made.
The injured worker believed that if there is no coverage, there can be no claim. To make matters, the worker sent in a letter saying the injury did not take place during work to see if health insurance would cover all of the medical bills from the serious injury suffered on the job.
In Ohio, even if your employer has no BWC coverage, you can still make a claim. The employer would be considered a non-complying employer by the BWC. Once the injured worker is granted a valid BWC claim, the BWC pays all of the compensation (medical bills, prescriptions, lost wages, injury money, etc.). The injured worker is fully covered.
The BWC then goes after the non-complying employer and seeks reimbursement dollar for dollar. The bottom line – if you get hurt on the job, make an accident report, tell a co-worker, get medical attention if necessary, and call a workers’ compensation specialist.
You can’t go it alone. The climate in BWC is not employee friendly. You need protection in order to obtain all of the benefits to which you are entitled
.
