Questions for the Average Joe: Personal Injury XII

Q: I was injured at work last year. At the time I thought my job handled everything for my workers’ compensation claim, but now I’m getting bills for my time at the hospital that I thought were paid. Can I still use workers’ compensation to pay my bills?

A: Injuries at work can be difficult enough to deal with as you try to get your life and career back on track, without having to deal with the bureaucratic worker’s compensation process. It’s easy to think your employer or the hospital will take care of opening a claim and billing worker’s compensation correctly, but this isn’t always the case. In Ohio, you generally have one year from the date of a work-related injury to open a worker’s compensation claim.

If you have an open claim, you should still be able to submit your bills for payment through worker’s compensation. If your claim was never opened however, whether you can use workers compensation to cover your bills comes down to how much time it has been since the accident. If you were hurt at work and aren’t sure what steps to take to make sure all of your bills are covered and that you’re fully compensated for your time off, an experienced worker’s compensation attorney can help you determine what your options are and help you make sure you get everything you deserve.

Q: I was in an auto accident and the police responded. The police report that came out did not match what happened and I was found at fault. What can I do?

A: The police report for an auto accident is a strong piece of evidence showing that happened in the accident, but it is not, on its own, definitive. If you were in an accident for which you weren’t at fault and this happens to you, thankfully you’re not without options. Immediately following the accident, it’s likely that your insurance company and the other insurance company will conduct an investigation into what happened. This will likely involve requests for oral statements so they can make their own determination as to the facts of the accident. It is in your best interest, however, not to give any verbal statement to the insurance company until you’ve consulted with an attorney. Particularly if you were seriously injured in the accident, you don’t want any statements you make to affect your ability to be compensated for your accident.

In a situation with disputed liability, it is increasingly possible that a lawsuit may be required to get the right result from your accident. Because of this, it is important that you contact an attorney quickly after the accident. An experienced auto accident attorney can help you navigate the situation and take the steps necessary to make sure you get the right result from this difficult situation.

Q: I had back surgery a few months ago to correct an ongoing issue, but if anything, my pain has increased. Do I have a case if the surgery failed?

A: As with any medical procedure, surgery carries a long list of potential risks and complications. These can include infections, unforeseen complications during surgery, and failure of the surgery to correct the issue at all. Every surgery, however, is unique and complex. Some surgeries that fail for one patient may be completely successful for another, without any clear indication why. Surgeons are, however, capable of mistakes, and a mistake during surgery can have dire consequence.

If you recently underwent a surgery and think something went wrong, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your situation for a potential lawsuit. Though not every surgery is successful and not every unsuccessful surgery is a reason for a lawsuit, if you or a loved one underwent surgery that did not go as intended, you may have options to hold the surgeon liable. A conversation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you determine if a lawsuit is the right next step.

Get to Know

Zachary Belcher joined Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy and ensures that every individual who contacts the firm receives outstanding service and support throughout the intake process.

Zack graduated from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2015 and has handled more than 500 injury cases for clients injured in automobile accidents. He understands the stressful and life-altering situations clients face before seeking a personal injury attorney

Contact Our Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys

At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, we know that over 90 years of success does not come without hard work. We are committed to building resources so that we can achieve the best possible results for clients like you. Put ours to work for you—call our Cleveland personal injury attorney at (216) 230-6382 or complete a free initial consultation form today.

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