Ohio Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Helping clients navigate the Workers' Compensation system

One of the most common questions asked by injured workers is whether they should hire an attorney. While you are not obligated to have an attorney represent you in order to obtain Ohio workers' compensation benefits, the truth is that you will almost always benefit when you have quality representation.

The Ohio workers' compensation program provides compensation to injured workers for time missed from work as a result of workplace accidents or hazardous exposures. Ohio's workers' compensation program also pays for the medical expenses directly associated with such workplace injuries. Vanderhorst & Burgy can help you recover money damages for:

  • Workplace injuries:  Regardless of who is at fault in the events leading up to an accident or injury, Ohio's workers' compensation system provides a system of assessing compensation for missed days of work and incurred medical expenses. 
  • Occupational disease claims:  Compensation and medical benefits are available to Ohio workers who contract an occupational disease as a result of workplace exposures.
  • Wrongful death claims:  Surviving dependents of Ohio workers who die as a result of work related injuries or occupational diseases may be entitled to benefits. These death benefits can be paid to a widow/widower and/or minor children of the deceased worker and in some instances, the adult dependent children.

Vanderhorst & Burgy can help you with:

  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can make sure you are paid for all times that you are off of work or sustain a wage-loss due to your work injury or occupational disease. Did you know that if you return to lesser paying work as a result of your work related disability you may be entitled to up to 66% of that wage-loss?
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can determine that you are paid at the correct rates. Ohio's workers' compensation system has a complicated formula for calculating your weekly benefit rate and there are exceptions to the general rules that could result in your weekly pay being increased substantially.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can ensure you are paid any permanent partial disability to which you are entitled. Normally, the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and your employer will not pay you this type of award unless you ask for it yourself. Permanent partial disability is usually a one time monetary award to you for any permanent injury, however slight, that results from an allowed workers' compensation claim.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can make sure you receive any loss of use award you are entitled to receive. For example, for an injury that results in the loss of use of a thumb for a 2009 injury, you could receive up to $46,020. All too often, these are the types of awards the Ohio BWC and/or your employer will not voluntarily pay without a formal hearing.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can help you receive all of the medical treatment or tests you are entitled to receive for your work injury or occupational disease. Many of our clients first come to us for help because they are being denied treatment or diagnostic testing under their claim.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy helps our most severely disabled clients navigate the complex process necessary to obtain permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. PTD benefits are lifetime benefits for those who are no longer able to do any sustained work and are unable to be retrained to do any sustained work.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can assist you in determining whether it is wise to settle your workers' compensation claim, and if so, we can help you get the best possible settlement value for your claim. Many times we advise our clients that it is not in their best interest to settle if they are not medically stable.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy will write for medical records and reports that help you obtain the above benefits. Medical issues are resolved based upon what the various doctors say about your medical conditions and treatment needs so it is important to have someone on your side that knows what medical information is needed for your claim to be allowed and/or benefits paid.
  • Vanderhorst & Burgy can determine if you are entitled to receive an additional award because of a violation of a specific safety requirement. This is a complex process whereby you may get up to an additional 50% of your workers' compensation pay if your injury was a result of your employer's violation of a specific safety requirement.

Let us help you obtain all the compensation and benefits you need and deserve under Ohio's workers' compensation system.

Contact us today: 419-472-9041

From offices located in Toledo, Vanderhorst & Burgy, LLC proudly serves clients throughout Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Wood, Fulton and Henry counties in Ohio and Monroe and Lenawee counties in Michigan.