Learn About: Injury / Causation

Learn About Ohio Workers' Compensation

Injury / Causation

The Ohio workers' compensation system can be confusing. Our learn about pages provide basic information about the Ohio workers' compensation system. You can find out more about the system from our Ohio Workers' Compensation Guide or our explanation of Ohio workers' compensation terms.

Learn about causation of an injury:

causation means that for an injury claim to be allowed you must demonstrate that the injury resulted from the employment.
Different theories of causation may apply depending on the facts of the case. The two main ways to prove causation are direct causation or aggravation. Other possible types of causation include gradually developing injury and dual causation.
Direct causation means that your injury was a direct result of what happened at work.
Aggravation means that you had a condition which was made worse by what happened to you at work. For injuries which occurred before August 25, 2006, workers' compensation may be paid for an “aggravation” of an injury. For injuries which occurred on or after August 25, 2006, there must be a substantial aggravation of an injury in order for an injury to be compensable.
Some injuries are gradually developing or repetitive injuries. These types of injuries are usually from repetitive job duties, although they don't have to be. A gradually developing injury occurs when the injury was caused by the wear and tear of the job duties, rather than a specific incident. Injuries caused by such wear and tear are compensable under Ohio workers' compensation, even though there is no specific incident.
There can be more than one cause of an injury. Even if only one of the causes of the injury is the work, such an injury can be allowed under the dual causation theory. Dual causation applies when there are two (or more) causes of an injury and either cause alone would have been sufficient to cause the injury.
Causation usually requires evidence from a doctor. However, in certain circumstances if a matter involves common knowledge (such as a heavy weight falling on someone's arm and causing a broken arm) medical testimony is not required. This is very unusual and medical evidence is almost always required.

See our injury page for more information about workers' compensation injuries.

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