Dayton Ohio Personal Injury Blog

Gov. Kasich proposes $1 billion refund from Workers' Comp fund

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Governor Kasich recently announced plans to return approximately $1 billion of worker's compensation funds back to the businesses which paid them. In addition to the refund, the proposal also includes plans to make alterations to the way worker's compensation benefits are determined and distributed. Before the payment and alterations become a reality, however, the board of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation must meet and approve the proposal.

According to a spokesperson for the BWC, the $1 billion would be funded by the dividends of investments which had significantly higher returns than were originally anticipated. If approved, these dividend payments would be distributed amongst all 210,000 clients of the BWC, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately owned. The hope, expressed by Governor Kasich and a spokesperson for the BWC, is that the returned dividends will help stimulate economic growth throughout the state.

OSHA trying to protect temporary workers from accidents

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

Workplace safety hazards continue to injure workers in the U.S. However, new research shows that temporary workers are much more likely to suffer from a workplace injury compared to permanent workers.

To address the safety issues posed to temporary workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has implemented a program to try and prevent workplace accidents and injuries from harming these workers. OSHA has directed safety inspectors to check and see if employers are complying with federal safety guidelines when they use temporary workers.

Ohio may ban red-light, speed cameras

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Lawmakers in Ohio have proposed a bill that would ban red-light and speed cameras on Ohio roads, prohibiting law enforcement officials from using the cameras to enforce traffic laws. Supporters of the ban say that the cameras are only used to fine more drivers for minor traffic violations and infringe on a driver's privacy. On the other side, law enforcement officials in Ohio said that the cameras increase safety on the road.

Police departments across Ohio support the use of red-light and speed cameras as they have already helped decrease the number of car accidents across the state. In addition to accidents decreasing, police say that traffic violations have also decreased as a result of using these cameras.

Falls a safety threat for construction workers

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

Workers in the construction industry have a much higher risk of being injured while on the job. Why is the construction industry so hazardous? One of the biggest reasons is the high fall risk construction workers face while on the job.

Falls from roofs are one of the most common types of workplace accidents for construction workers. In fact, these falls resulted in one-third of all fall-related construction fatalities during the last two decades, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training Data Center. They reported that 6,591 injuries were caused from construction roof falls during 1992 to 2009 in the U.S., with 2,163 roof falls being fatal.

Ohio trying to reduce construction zone accidents

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

Construction zones will be popping up all over Ohio this season. In addition to the increase in traffic and detours, there is also an increase in car accidents in work zones during this season. The Ohio Department of Transportation is hoping to increase safety and reduce the number of car accidents caused by speeding through construction zones through a new safety device.

Work zones in Ohio often see more car accidents compared to other roadways, and one of the biggest reasons car accidents continue to happen in work zones is due to speeding. To address this safety issue, the Ohio DOT has implemented new technology to help reduce car accidents in construction zones by having a portable device that shows slower speed limits in construction zones.

SSDI benefits a lifeline for many people with disabilities

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Social Security Disability on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

Social Security disability benefits sometimes get a bad rap. However, these benefits are a lifeline for millions of disabled Americans. Many Americans suffer from a disability. In fact, one in five Americans lives with a disability and one in 10 has a severe disability, according to the U.S. Census.

Many of the individuals who receive SSDI benefits suffer from severe health conditions, including terminal illnesses. SSDI benefits help recipients afford their daily expenses and keep many of these people out of poverty.

Many behaviors are dangerous behind the wheel

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, April 4, 2013.

Car accidents are caused by many different factors but one of the biggest factors contributing to car accidents these days is distracted driving. Distracted driving is very dangerous and the government reported that 3,331 people were killed in accidents caused by distracted drives in 2011.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and safety organizations are trying to educate all drivers about the dangers of being distracted behind the wheel. There are many different types of distractions that can cause car accidents, so it is important for drivers to understand the types of behaviors that take their attention off the road and put them at risk for being in a car accident.

Social Security Disability benefits available for the disabled

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Social Security Disability on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.

Many Americans don't think about the risks of becoming disabled during their professional career. However, studies show that workers in their 20s have a three in 10 chance of suffering a long-term disability before they retire, according to the Social Security Administration.

Many people don't plan for disability and it can be a very scary experience to not be able to work after becoming disabled. How will you pay for your bills and everyday expenses? The good news is that the federal government has the Social Security disability program to help disabled individuals in the U.S. People with disabilities can apply for Social Security Disability benefits, which provide individuals and families with monthly benefits to help pay monthly expenses.

Time change reduces worker safety, study says

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Every spring we change our clocks ahead one hour during daylight savings time. The time change makes many people feel extra sleepy the next couple of days and a new study reports that the time change may actually impact our safety at work.

A study done by the University of Michigan found that many people feel tired and drowsy the week after daylight savings time. The study found that workers sleep 40 minutes less the night before the first Monday after the time change and the loss of sleep increased the risk of workplace injuries.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed after Ohio car accident

On behalf of Hochman & Plunkett CO., L.P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, March 15, 2013.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Ohio after a woman suffered fatal injuries after a car accident in 2011. The estate of a young woman has filed a lawsuit against the other driver involved in the car accident. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the other driver's negligence caused the accident that lead to the young woman's death.

The accident happened at night, when a pickup truck hit the woman's car, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The other driver was not injured or hurt after the accident. The woman suffered many injuries and later died after the accident. The lawsuit is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.