Every year on September 19, otherwise perfectly reasonable people are given permission to spend the day saying things like “Arrr!”, “Ahoy, matey!” and “Shiver me timbers!”

In 2011 the social media team at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation posted a social media post using it, and laughed when our very new social media team responded

Avast ye scurvy dogs at the BWC & IC, heave to and prepare to be boarded.  Give up all ye shinnies & rum.

So naturally, we at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC couldn’t let National Talk Like a Pirate Day sail by without joining the crew.

And believe it or not, pirates and Ohio workers’ compensation have a connection. Ever seen that stereotypical picture of the pirate from the 1700 & 1800’s?  We did our best job with the graphics, remember we’re lawyers, not artists. 

Well, the earrings and other decorations weren’t just for show.  We kid you not; it was a form of workplace injury protection. 

The first workers’ compensation laws were created in Germany (Prussia then) in 1884.  It didn’t make its way to the US until 1908 in Wisconsin and the the program we have now in Ohio started in 1913. 

Given that it didn’t exist yet, and we doubt captains were very law-abiding types, they needed something.

Imagine for a moment that you’re a pirate working aboard a ship:

You slip on a wet deck and hurt your back.

A crate falls from the rigging and lands on your foot.

You develop shoulder problems after years of hauling ropes.

An unfortunate swing of a sword, fire of flintlock or cannonball leaves you needing an eyepatch or a peg leg.

Arrr...that sounds like a workers’ compensation claim! (no, really, yes we’re being a bit tongue in cheek, but )

Of course, if your pirate ship were an Ohio employer, things would get considerably more complicated.

You’d need to report the injury right away.

It will be difficult finding that Ohio BWC Certified Provider on the sea or the next port. 

And back then, well medical testing was a bit, how shall we say, unavailable. 

There could be questions about what conditions are allowed in the claim, whether you can return to your former position of employment aka your role on the crew, what compensation you're entitled to receive, and perhaps even a trip before the Industrial Commission.

And suddenly: “Arrr! I be needing a lawyer to deal with these scurvy dogs”

That's when you may want somebody aboard who knows how to navigate the waters.

For more than three decades, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC has helped injured Ohio workers navigate a workers’ compensation system that can sometimes feel like sailing through unfamiliar waters without a map.

Fortunately, you don't need to understand every statute, rule, form, hearing procedure, or deadline yourself.

That's our job.

And while we can't promise buried treasure, parrots, or a ship full of gold doubloons, Ohio workers’ compensation benefits can include medical treatment and various forms of compensation when the law allows them.

One more thing: unlike certain legendary pirates, please don't wait until you've lost a leg before asking for help.

If you're injured at work, knowing your rights early can matter.

So today, hoist the Jolly Roger, practice your best “ARRRR!”, and enjoy one of the sillier holidays on the calendar.

And remember: If ye be injured on the job in Ohio, ye may need more than a treasure map to find the benefits ye deserve.

Avast ye scurvy dogs at the BWC & IC, heave to and prepare to be boarded.  Give up all ye shinnies & rum.

Happy National Talk Like a Pirate Day from the crew at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC! 🏴‍☠️⚖️

Disclaimer from the Captain: Kurt Young is licensed in Ohio, not on the Seven Seas. This post is for general information and pirate-related amusement and is not legal advice.

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