Workers’ Comp Death Benefits for Surviving Family in Ohio

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Support after an Unimaginable Loss

No moment is worse than when a loved one leaves for work one day and never comes home. Losing someone who was a major presence in your life to a workplace accident is gut-wrenching.

Our hearts go out to you if you have suffered such a loss. Caring for family is deeply rooted in the work we do at Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal (HNB), and we want to be there for you.

When a loved one dies in an accident on the job, or later from injuries or illnesses that originated from work, workers’ compensation in Ohio offers benefits to dependent family members left behind. This can include:

Two-thirds of the deceased workers’ wages, subject to limits set by the state.
Up to $7,500 for funeral expenses.

While the recipient of these benefits is usually a spouse or a child, the circumstances of each case are different.

The fatal injury may have been sudden, leaving you wondering what to do next. Your loved one may have been previously injured or sick and was receiving workers’ compensation benefits .

You may want to pursue an additional award because a violation of a safety rule contributed to your loved one’s death.

Whatever your circumstances, it’s no time to be on your own. These are painfully tough decisions to make when you are grieving.

At HNB, we care about our clients’ well-being. We have helped thousands of working Ohio families through the hardest times in their lives. Our experience includes both benefits for injured workers and loss of life cases for surviving family members. We can help you make the best decision for your family’s future.

We help workers and families of workers in any occupation when they are victims of accidents on the job.

There is no moment more important for us than to hear you say, “Helping me, that’s HNB.”

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How Do I Apply for Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits?

Deadly accidents can happen in many ways, depending on where your loved one worked and what job they did. Workplace deaths can result from falls, falling objects, equipment malfunctions, exposure to harmful substances, exposure to dangerous working conditions, or even violence at a job site.

The most common cause in Ohio is auto accidents.

Regardless of how the accident occurred, the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) has a process to get surviving families financial support they need.

Workers’ compensation death benefits for surviving family members don’t take into account whether negligence led to your loved one’s death. In those cases, you may need to pursue a personal injury wrongful death case. HNB’s Ohio lawyers can help you decide the best course of action.

In the case of Ohio workers’ compensation death benefits, you have one year from the date of death to file a claim. For illnesses contracted on the job, you have two years to file.

Your first step is to fill out the “First Report of Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI).” But one of your first steps should also be contacting an experienced Ohio workers’ compensation attorney.

For something this serious and sensitive, you want someone highly capable of protecting your rights and guiding you through the process.

You’ll likely need to meet with a BWC claims specialist. You may need to gather additional paperwork to support your case. If your claim is denied, you’ll need to file an appeal.

The last thing you need during a time of tragedy is making a life-altering decision without all the information.

We’ve been helping Ohioans in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and across the state for 40 years. We’ve secured over $500,000,000.00 in awards, benefits and settlements for our injury clients.

Talking to us has no cost to you. We only collect a fee when we collect an award, settlement or benefits for you.

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Who Can Receive Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits?

In general, family members who are eligible to receive benefits after a loss of life on the job include:

Spouses: If you were married to a worker who died, you are eligible for benefits for life or until you remarry.
Dependent children: Children are eligible for death benefits until they reach 18. If they are still in school, they can receive benefits until they are 25.
Dependent children with disabilities: Children with mental or physical disabilities that prevent them from working can continue to receive death benefits with no age limit.
Another family member who was dependent on the person who died.

If your loved one was owed worker’s compensation before they died, that accrued compensation is still owed to the worker’s family.

If no eligible family member is found, those benefits go to the worker’s estate to be distributed according to their will.

Applying for workers’ compensation death benefits can be overwhelming and emotional. It’s hard to keep track of all the pieces. At HNB, we approach every case with compassion and care.

We want to be there for you, for your family, and for your future.

Give us a call and count on us to help you on the path to a better place.

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