Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Ohio?
The short answer to that question, which is one we are asked often at Barkan Meizlish, is no.
Does it happen? Sadly, yes.
Workers’ compensation was designed and implemented to help injured workers and employers cope with workplace injuries. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) pays medical benefits and lost wages to an employee who is injured or contracts a disease associated with his or her job. The bureau also pays death benefits to survivors when a death results from a work-related injury or disease.
According to Ohio’s Labor and Industry code “no employer shall discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee filed a claim or instituted, pursued or testified in any proceedings under the workers’ compensation act for an injury or occupational disease which occurred in the course of and arising out of his employment with that employer.”
The code seems pretty clear-cut, but we know there are some bad actors out there.
How To Recognize Retaliation After A Workers’ Comp Claim Has Been Filed.
Companies do not like being named in workers’ comp claims. A claim will likely drive up their insurance costs. Also, reports of workplace accidents require investigations. Companies can then be exposed to regulatory penalties and requirements to change the way they operate.
Too often, anger and frustration at such consequences gets illegally redirected toward the employee who suffered and called attention to unsafe working conditions. Workers’ comp retaliation takes many forms. An employee who returns to work after filing a claim can face:
- Firing
- Demotion
- Pay and benefits cuts
- Reassignment to a dirty, dangerous, or low-status job
- Insults and bullying
- Physical assaults
What to Do When Retaliation Occurs.
If a company or organization does retaliate, it can leave the employee isolated, scared, and looking for answers. Unfortunately, it is not always obvious how to prove that retaliation in the workplace is directly related to seeking workers’ comp benefits.
Consulting with a trusted member of your human resources department or a concerned supervisor to clarify what is happening can be a good first step. It is also important to document actions that feel or are identified as retaliatory. This cannot be overstated. Document everything you can.
At some point, speaking confidentially with an employee’s rights attorney will provide some peace of mind and insight on how to end the retaliation or hold the employer accountable.
A workers’ comp retaliation settlement typically includes compensation for back pay, front pay, and emotional distress. If a case goes to trial, a jury is also empowered to award punitive damages and to order the defendant to pay the employee’s attorney fees. Punitive damages are noncriminal fines that are intended to penalize wrongdoing and serve as an example to other companies that might mistreat people who apply for workers’ comp benefits.
Several attorneys with Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP, devote themselves to assisting their fellow Ohioans with securing workers’ comp benefits. These lawyers, who work out of each of our offices in Columbus, Cleveland, and Marietta, offer free consultations throughout the state and take appointments online. Employees with concerns about violations of their rights can also get answers by calling (614) 221-4221.
What Evidence Is Needed for a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit in Ohio?
Succeeding with a traumatic brain injury lawsuit (TBI) in Ohio requires presenting two types of evidence. The first type establishes the direct link between someone else’s negligence or recklessness and the traumatic brain injury. The second establishes the extent and compensability of the Ohio traumatic brain injury.
“Compensability” is lawyer-speak for “deserving compensation.” Compensation for a TBI can include past and future medical care costs, disability, lost income, pain and suffering, and non economic losses like being unable to care for children and fulfill the duties of a spouse.
Examples of Negligence in Traumatic Brain Injury
Each case requires its own specific evidence, but providing general examples is possible. For instance, a driver who causes a car crash that leaves a person in another vehicle suffering from a TBI would be negligent or reckless. Similarly, a patient who suffers a loss of oxygen during a surgery could possible be due to an anesthesiologist’s negligence.
Importantly, Ohio courts recognize the legal principle of comparative negligence. This means that, in order to succeed with an insurance claim or civil lawsuit, a TBI victim only needs to prove that the defendant bears 51 percent or more of the responsibility for inflicting the brain injury. Compensation may be reduced to reflect the amount of responsibility shared by the victim.
Showing That a Negligent or Reckless Act Inflicted a Traumatic Brain Injury
The evidence that a person suffered a TBI can be very clear-cut. For instance, almost no one will doubt that a fall or a crash caused by a truck driver that results in a fractured skull could seriously injure a person’s brain. Likewise, a person who becomes paralyzed or requires assistance with activities of daily living—getting in and out of bed, brushing one’s teeth, dressing—should encounter minimal push back when claiming to suffer from a traumatic brain injury.
However, closed head injuries can draw questions from insurance company representatives and jurors. In a case where legitimate doubts about the existence of a traumatic brain injury can be raised, the person who files an insurance claim or traumatic brain injury lawsuit can rely on:
Statements made by the people who know the traumatic brain injury victim best will carry a lot of weight. The changes a person undergoes following a traumatic brain injury can be profound even if they are not immediately apparent.
Traumatic brain injury symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
Loved ones and close companions can speak powerfully about these often hidden TBI symptoms that also take a toll on them.
Assistance From an Ohio Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
Our experience in advising and representing traumatic brain injury victims in Columbus and across the state of Ohio is that insurance companies will try to minimize or deny settlements for even the most obvious brain injuries. This unfortunate reality makes gathering, organizing, and presenting clear, convincing evidence from experts and the individuals who live and work with the brain injury victim doubly important.
If you or your family needs help with a traumatic brain injury lawsuit case, let our Columbus traumatic brain injury lawyers know how we can be of service. We offer free consultations on all types of personal injury claims, and we take appointments online. You can also speak with an attorney at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox, LLP, by calling (614) 221-4221.