Hi, I’m Anthony Castelli.  I’m a Cincinnati personal injury trial attorney, and I also focus on workers’ compensation.  My message today is why workers’ compensation benefits get cutoff.  

Many people that are hurt at work and are unable to work think that they are going to get workers’ compensation benefits to supplement their time off for the duration of them not being able to work.  Unfortunately, that's not the case.  The workers’ compensation system in Ohio only pays you for being off while you are healing up.

The way I explain it is before you got hurt you were up here, you came down here and then the doctor brought you back up here.  He can't get you any better.  The terminology that they use is maximum medical improvement, and the laws say once you're maximum medically improved, you’re cutoff your compensation benefits.  Now, your claim is still alive for medical benefits and some other awards, but your biweekly paycheck is going to be cutoff.  

It also can be cutoff if your employer offers you a suitable light-duty job that your doctor says that you could do and you decide you don't want to do it.  You can also be cutoff for that reason. 

So the big problem comes in is when a man or woman is maximum medically improved and they can't go back to work.  Now, there are some remedies for that.  It would take a long time to explain all your options.  I’d be glad to talk to you, if you have such an issue.  Give me a call at 621-2345.  I don't charge for initial consultation.  The workers’ compensation system is complicated, and I’d be glad to help you through it.

Thanks a lot.