Dedicated Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Lawyer in Mansfield, Ohio
At Dunkle Law Office L.L.C in Mansfield, Ohio, we believe that providing good representation starts with personal attention. Unlike many other firms, we meet with our clients face-to-face to make sure they know what is happening in their case and what comes next. We believe that our clients deserve to be informed and personally meet with our clients who wish to speak with us, for any reason.
Areas of Practice
We handle a wide variety of litigation and appellate law matters, including helping people who are dealing with an injury. We represent clients in issues, including:
Ohio Workplace Injury Lawyers
If you have been injured at work, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. It can be challenging to deal with insurance companies, doctors, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and your employer while you are focusing on your injuries. We can give you the aggressive, experienced service you need. Contact Josh Dunkle to discuss your situation in a free initial consultation. There are no upfront costs, so you risk nothing by speaking to us. Our focus on helping injured people also extends to people who are seeking Social Security disability benefits, or who have been denied social security benefits. To schedule a meeting, contact our office online or call (419) 525-1984.
Ohio Workers’ Compensation
An injury suffered on the job can be a difficult for an injured worker both financially and emotionally. Unfortunately, an injured worker is not often explained their rights after a work injury. Collecting the benefits an injured worker is entitled to can be distressing difficult to obtain without counsel.
In many cases, you have a right to compensation. If treatment is needed for your work injury, you have a right to treatment. You have a right to workers’ compensation even if your employer tells you that you are a contractor, or that they do not have coverage for workers’ compensation. Their failure to pay for coverage does not affect your right to the protection of the law. It is unfortunate, but when an employer “cheats the system” you may have to force your employer and their insurance company to give you the protection you deserve.
Many times, an injured worker is told they must treat with a company doctor and are not even aware they have the choice of physician to treat their work injury. You may be harassed and be treated poorly at work. You may even be fired. Your employer may not advise you about your rights after a workplace injury and may even give you incorrect information. Before speaking to insurance representatives or signing away your rights, you should speak to our experienced Mansfield work injury lawyers. Our attorneys can help.
Most people don’t realize they need a lawyer until they are denied treatment or lose their jobs, and sometimes the delay can damage your claim. To get the protection you need, you should speak with us. We have extensive experience dealing with workers’ compensation, including going to court to fight for injured workers. Do not delay and contact us to help obtain the compensation you are entitled to. For a free consultation, contact our office online or call (419) 525-1984.
Experienced, Aggressive, Thorough Representation at Hearings and Before Ohio’s Courts
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) makes the initial determination regarding your claim, unless you work for a large employer who is self-insured. In that case, your employer makes the initial decision. If the BWC makes the determination and you wish to appeal, you have 14 days to do so from receipt of the order. If a self-insured employer denies the claim, the BWC refers the claim to the Ohio Industrial Commission for an in-person hearing before an Ohio Industrial Commission hearing officer.
The workers’ compensation system is a complicated system that can be hard to understand. Sometimes, your employer even appeals a decision into court that allowed your claim or benefits into court, even though you succeeded at hearing. If you receive a Notice of Appeal into court from your employer and do not respond to it in time, you can have a default judgment entered against you and you will lose the claim.
Even if you are not successful in your claim at your hearing, you have the right to appeal the denial into court if the decision involves your request to have a medical allowance added to your claim or if the claim itself is denied. However, certain steps need to be taken to perfect your right to appeal into court. But time is of the essence. At Dunkle Law Office L.L.C, we can help you respond quickly and aggressively to protect your right to receive compensation. To schedule a free initial consultation, please contact our office online or call (419) 525-1984.
We have the experience to take your case to the proper court in order to get proper compensation for you. Depending on the situation, your employer may even be required to pay your attorneys’ fees. Even If your Ohio workers’ compensation claim has been recently denied, please schedule your free initial consultation by contacting our office online or by calling (419) 525-1984.
Social Security Disability Claims Process
Unfortunately, most Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims are denied initially. Many individuals simply give up at this point and do not appeal the denial. Do not be one of these people! Even if your initial application was denied, you have 60 days to appeal the denial. Many social security cases can be strengthened by an attorney throughout this process, increasing chances of success without hearing, and, if necessary, at the hearing. There are two appeals that must be filed for a matter to go to hearing. From the local Social Security office to the Bureau of Disability Determination and the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO), there are several agencies that will often end up reviewing your claim before it is approved. Sometimes, but not usually, an individual will win after he or she files the first appeal, before the claim gets to hearing.
You likely have a very serious medical condition if you have filed for these benefits. You should not have to worry about the forms, procedures and requirements of filing a claim for benefits. Give us a call for an initial free consultation so we can assist you with your case while you focus on your health.
As is the case in workers’ compensation claims, we do not charge an upfront fee for social security cases. We only win a fee if you obtain an accrued award. This is an award that pays you for benefits before the date of your hearing. The fee is only based upon the amount of this award, not your ongoing benefits. If you have suffered an injury or illness that has or will completely prevent you from working for 12 months or more, we can help you overcome a denied SSD or SSI claim. Please contact our office online or call at (419) 525-1984 to set up an initial appointment where we can take more time to explain to you how we can help.
At Dunkle Law Office L.L.C, we have decades of experience helping people get the compensation they deserve. To discuss your denied claim and the appeal process at a free initial consultation, please contact our office online or call (419) 525-1984.
Filing an Appeal for a Denied SSD/SSI Claim
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You must have suffered an injury or illness that has or will completely prevent you from working for 12 months or more.
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You must be at least 18 years old to qualify for SSD benefits. (SSI benefits are sometimes available for minor children)
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You must have had enough “credits” to qualify for Social Security Disability and must show you were disabled within a five year period after you last worked in order to obtain SSD benefits.
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You must be a United States resident.
Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income(SSI) Benefits
Regardless of how severely you have been hurt or how serious your medical condition is, the Social Security Administration can at times be quite unforgiving. As a government agency, they do not allow sympathy for your condition to affect their determination. Many people are denied benefits simply because they have not adequately provided evidence of the severity of their condition. Dunkle Law Office L.L.C has access to case law and forms for your doctors to fill out that can assist the Judge in your case with finding in your favor.
It is therefore very important that they are provided with the documentation that will allow them to give you the benefits you deserve. There are many reasons that claims can be denied. In order to qualify for benefits, the following must be demonstrated, at a minimum:
SSI benefits might be available for people who have not worked long enough to qualify for SSD. SSI is also available for those individuals who have not worked for a substantial period of time and who cannot otherwise demonstrate they were disabled within the five-year period after they last worked, i.e., the individual cannot demonstrate disability before his or her “date last insured“.
You do not have to wait until you have been out of work for a full year to file for benefits. We can help you with the important (and sometimes overwhelming) task of collecting medical records and presenting your information properly. If you have been denied benefits at any level, or if you believe you should file, please contact our office online or call (419) 525-1984.