THINGS WORKERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CLAIMS PROCESS
1. Workers’ compensation laws vary considerably from state to state. From determining whether or not employee fault is a factor in your case to the time you have to file a claim, laws regarding work accidents largely depend on the state in which you live. In Ohio, we have a constitutionally established state insurance fund known as the Bureau of Workers’Compensation (BWC). This state agency is responsible for administering workers’compensation claims in Ohio for nearly all employees. Settlement is still an option, but it requires resignation from work at the employer of record in all but the rarest of circumstances. In addition, Ohio has a “no-fault”system for coverage, meaning that a claimmay be pursued even if the injury is the result of the injured worker’s negligence. 2. Don’t just let BWC, Industrial Commission of Ohio, or your self-insured employer “work it out.” Since the BWC and the few larger, self-insured (SI) employers provide much-needed payments when necessary, many people forget that the BWC is the state insurance fund and that SI employers and businesses are driven only by profit. In our day-to-day lives, we all hope others, including the BWC and our employer, will do the right thing by us — but don’t
bet the farm on it. Injured workers often treat their claims representatives as someone who is there to help them, when, in reality, these adjusters are trained to find ways to deny claims or pay out as little as possible. 3. Choosing the right attorney can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case—and they’re rarely too expensive! If your work accident involved only minor injuries with no time lost from work, you may not need to hire an attorney. But any worker involved in an accident that causes significant injuries, expensive or ongoing medical treatment, and prolonged time off work will almost always best be served by getting an experienced attorney’s advice. As an attorney who exclusively handles workers’compensation claims on behalf of injured Ohioans, I work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no upfront fee for legal representation and no hourly billing. I’m only paid if and when I obtain money for your claim. If you’re going through the bewildering claims process, give us a call at 614-515-2595 and give your claim the best chance at success.
SUDOKU
ABBY’S APPETIZERS PASTA WITH TURKEY AND BROCCOLI
This simple, delicious recipe only takes 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s also a great way to encourage kids to eat their broccoli. The next time you make pasta, leave the canned sauce in the pantry and make this instead!
INGREDIENTS
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2 cloves garlic, chopped
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3/4 pound pasta (shells or orecchiette)
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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
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2 cups broccoli florets
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Salt
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3 tablespoons olive oil
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Parmesan cheese
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1 pound ground turkey
DIRECTIONS
and a pinch of salt. Cook while breaking up meat with a wooden spoon for 3–5 minutes. Combine turkey with pasta and broccoli mixture, adding the remaining olive oil as you stir. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan.
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Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli when pasta is 1 minute from done. Drain both and return to pot. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, garlic, crushed red pepper,
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Adapted from delish.com
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