A workplace injury can leave you juggling medical appointments, missed work and questions about what happens next. Keeping your records organized can help you track what happened and respond if questions arise about your claim. Ohio law also sets deadlines for filing a workers’ compensation claim, so preserving important paperwork from the start can help you avoid scrambling for information later.
Here are the records worth keeping throughout your claim.
Accident and incident records
Records describing your workplace injury can establish when, where and how the incident happened. Keep a copy of your employer’s injury or incident report along with any written notice you submitted about the accident. You should also save photographs of the scene and contact information for anyone who witnessed what happened.
One of the most important records to keep is Ohio’s First Report of Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI), which starts the workers’ compensation claim and records basic information about your injury, employer and medical treatment.
Medical records and treatment documentation
Your medical records show how the injury affects you and what treatment you have received. Keep copies of evaluations, diagnoses, test results, treatment notes, prescriptions and appointment records.
Tell your healthcare provider that the condition resulted from your work so your medical records accurately reflect the circumstances. Your medical documents can also help you track how your condition changes during recovery.
Wage and employment records
Pay records can help show how an injury affects your income. Save recent pay stubs, wage statements and records showing changes in your earnings after the injury.
These records may matter when your benefits depend on your pre-injury wages or when you cannot return to your regular position. Keeping records from before and after the injury can help show how your employment and income changed.
Workers’ comp notices and claim correspondence
Keep every notice and message you receive about your claim. This includes BWC decisions, treatment determinations and communications from your employer, managed care organization or BWC.
Pay attention to the dates on these notices. Some communications may contain deadlines or explain what you need to do next.
Work restrictions and return-to-work records
Your doctor’s work restrictions can show what duties you can safely perform while recovering. Keep copies of work-status forms, medical restrictions and any modified-duty offer from your employer.
For example, your doctor may restrict lifting or limit how long you can stand. Written records can help show whether your available duties match those medical limits.
Protect your right to worker’s comp
Keeping everything together can make it easier to find information when you need it. Organize your records by date and keep copies of important paperwork rather than relying on memory or scattered emails. Reviewing your workers’ comp records with an attorney can also help you understand how they fit into your claim and what you may need to address next.