Accidents in the workplace can put people out of work for days, weeks, or even more, and even if they do come back to service, they may have lost their vigor, resilience, and ability, at least in part. Similar losses can also happen due to work environment illnesses which can incur both economic and non-economic damages upon the worker. Your top priority in the case of a workplace injury should be to contact our capable NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers to sort the legal mess as soon as possible because there is no time to be lost here if you want to be compensated fairly.

But before we go that far, we first need to understand the basic anatomy of a worker’s comp claim, what it is, how it works, and what you can get out of it. The basic point of this article is to discuss how a worker’s injury/illness compensation works for a work-injury victim.

Here are the basic stages:

#1) Inform Your Employer

This goes for both workplace injuries and illnesses – after collecting firsthand evidence, i.e. photos, videos, and assorted evidence, you need to inform your company about the incident. It is best to use an official channel for this purpose because that way your report will be documented. You can send an official email to your employer detailing the incident, i.e. how it happened, where, and how much you’ve suffered (it would be best to be diagnosed beforehand for this last part).

You should also get a copy of the incident report that will be available once you’ve filed your declaration/request. Ideally, you should not delay matters at all, be as quick as you can be, but don’t rush it either because the way you phrase things will matter a lot. Also, you need to get diagnosed by a medical professional to state the nature of your injuries with authority. But putting off sending your email to your company is not recommended either.

Lastly, be sure you understand how things usually work in your company to better progress through the whole process.

#2) Rush to a Medical Professional

You can’t put off seeking medical help because that would imply that your sufferings were not as intense as you stated. After all, if it were so, you wouldn’t have delayed seeking medical help. When you reach out to a medical professional, they’ll first diagnose your condition, most likely by observation alone, but in challenging cases, they may use advanced diagnostic tests as well. Keep a track of your medical records and reports for the current state, both of them will affect how much you can demand in compensation for your condition.

#3) File Your Claim

Next, based on the company policy, you’ll be able to file your claim and thus seek compensation for your injuries/illnesses. Usually, the protocol involves filling out a couple of forms and contacting the insurance company of your employer. If your claim is uncontested, then you’ll get your settlement for the medical bills, loss of income (short-term or long-term), and possibly compensation for permanent disability, without much trouble. However, if your employer feels that your injuries are not work-related, they can contest your claim.

Generally, the bigger the suffering, the bigger the compensation.

#4) As Soon As You Can, Return To Work

You should not delay getting back to work when you can. If possible, you should continue working for your company part-time and get compensated for the duration you don’t work. But if you can’t work at all during the recovery phase, then let your employer know about the recommendations of your doctor. Once the recovery period passes, return to work. Otherwise, it would be seen as an abuse of your legal claim which can backfire badly – watch out!

Contact Our NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers

Your time is precious here, and even more important is how you act in such circumstances – be mindful about what you do and say because it will affect your settlement. For proper counsel in the matter, you should not hesitate when reaching out to an attorney at law, even if you’re not sure that you can afford their services. Our NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers will listen to your story and share insights about the matter with you to let you better understand the options available to you. This way, you’ll be better equipped to make important decisions that will affect the outcome of your case.

Of course, we’ll handle the legal work for you, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Call us today for more information!

We are often asked about how much of the damages incurred by workplace injuries/illnesses are covered by worker’s compensation. Can you, for instance, expect to be compensated if you get infected by COVID while on your job? In this article, we’ll explore the conditions and categories which qualify for compensation via worker’s compensation to help you better understand what your situation holds.

If you do have to face financial and non-financial losses due to a work-related injury or illness, you need to discuss matters with a worker’s compensation lawyer as soon as possible. There is no other way to get compensated fairly for all of your losses, especially not by handling things on your own.

But before we can move to that stage, let’s see what situations qualify for worker’s compensation:

The Damages Must Be Work-Related

Well, this much is a no-brainer: if you want to be compensated for certain work injuries and damages, you’ll first have to verify that the losses are indeed work-related.

Maybe it was your work routine that took its toll on you, a slip and fall accident in a warehouse, or an infection from work (i.e. if one of your colleagues was not vaccinated for COVID and transmitted it despite precautions from your side), and so on.

The best practice in this regard is to gather as much evidence as possible so you never run out of resources to help strengthen your case. If you have photos, videos, and other records showing that your damages are work-related, ideally gathered on the spot, then you’re golden.

Work-Related Illnesses

Occupational illnesses or work-related diseases are different from routine infections, and you have the burden of proving that you contracted them in the workplace. Illnesses like black lung disease which is caused by coal dust, asbestosis which results due to exposure to asbestos, or COVID-19 are easier to prove as occupational diseases once the medical link is established. The same, however, can’t be said for the cold or flu which are regular infections that a person can contract from anywhere.

COVID-19 Contracted From The Workplace

Whether or not you get coverage for COVID infection will depend on the state laws, but if you do want to get compensated, you’ll have to prove that you were infected in the workplace, due to negligence on part of your management staff. For instance, maybe your employer did not mandate COVID vaccination for all, or there were no checks for the SOPs, or no verification about whether people were indeed vaccinated or not. In such cases, your employer will be considered liable for the damages given that you acted responsibly throughout.

Injuries Resulting From Repetitive Motion

Once again, a straightforward category – being subjected to a stressful heavy routine without respite can lead to serious injuries such as muscle strains and sprains. Lifting boxes, packing and unpacking stuff, moving heavy packages around, and handling heavy items (in general), can have such consequences. All employers are generally required not to overburden their workers and to offer rests in between work sessions to let the employees work at an optimal rate.

Compensation For Pre-Existing Conditions

If some pre-existing conditions are diagnosed while you’re being checked for the effects of your current injury, you will still get compensated for the damages you sustained. Your injury will be seen as an aggravation of your previous condition, however, some benefits might be slashed.

Loss Of Hearing Due To Noise

If someone works in an industry where they have to work in extremely noisy environments and that leads to loss of hearing, then this once again is a condition that deserves compensation. Worker’s compensation will cover such damages without issue.

Losses Incurred By Stress & Vice Versa

Anxiety and stress are directly correlated with illnesses and injuries – things can go both ways: a person might either contract some serious illness due to a stressful work environment or may fall into the pit of depression after sustaining some serious injury at work. In both cases, the person deserves to be compensated for the losses as long as a connection can be built between the work environment and the damages sustained.

Death

Lastly, if an employee dies due to some related injury or illness, their survivors (i.e. parents, spouse, children) can demand compensation for wrongful death, i.e. the economic and non-economic losses that they suffered due to the death of their loved one.

In all such cases, you should not hold back from contacting our professional NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers for timely assistance and legal representation.

Lawyers are professionals doing their jobs, whether they are representing the plaintiff or the defendant – it is business, nothing personal. However, many people hesitate about getting lawyers involved in their work injury cases out of fear that it could offend their employer.

If your employer’s negligence led to you sustaining damages, they should be ashamed instead of feeling offended. But we understand your concerns here, after all, you’ll be most probably working for the same employer once this episode passes.

In this article, we’ll dissect a typical work injury case, how things proceed in this regard, what you can do to get compensated fairly, and who is liable for your sufferings. But on top of this, we’ll dig into how your employer should react to the situation, what your rights are in this regard, and how you can ensure that your employer is not offended.

You should never hold back from getting legal help from our NC workers’ compensation lawyers.

Defining A Workplace Injury

The first thing to note here is that a workplace injury encompasses damages sustained by a worker during work hours, whether within the premises of the office/workplace or outside (but while engaged in work). These injuries can stem from several reasons such as repetitive motions, overweight cargo, over-exertion, and so on.

In most cases, a safer workplace can prevent such injuries, i.e. slip and fall accidents can be prevented by placing warning signs and cleaning up spills as soon as possible. Adequate work safety training is another factor in this regard. However, if that is not the case, then in the event of an accident, the employer will be considered liable.

Of course, even in routine, accidents are possible, and employers have insurance coverage for such events.

Dealing With Your Employer

Presuming that you’ve been involved in such an accident, you’ll have to inform your employer of the occurrence as soon as possible. Of course, assessing the damages, getting diagnosed, and seeking medical treatment comes first, but as soon as you get the opportunity, inform your employer. Ideally, you should hand over a written application detailing the incident, not too much, just the basic facts, i.e. nature of the accident, damage, and so on. Emailing is another excellent option.

Your employer will most likely be receptive to your concerns and not take offense at all. They already know that you are entitled to your compensation and legally owe it to you to give you your right. Plus, they can’t force you to accept a sum or to not seek legal aid. You have the right to an attorney, and you tell your employer that you plan on getting one, politely. Make it clear to them that you’re doing so just to safeguard your rights, nothing else.

Your employer can’t do anything to spoil things here – they can’t treat you unprofessionally simply because you chose to have legal representation, and if they do, there will be legal consequences for that. Plus, there is no reason for them to take offense because it is you who had to suffer.

How To Handle A Workplace Accident?

The way you handle the situation after such an accident will affect the outcome, so be careful here:

• Record evidence, as much as you can – pictures, videos, etc.
• Get diagnosed by a medical professional for your injuries right away.
• Seek medical treatment and keep a track of your medical expenses.
• Inform your employer of the incident with just enough details, without discussing things in detail (before you’ve contacted a lawyer).
• Contact a lawyer and discuss the incident with them.
• Prepare your case and present it before the insurance adjuster, through your lawyer.

Remember, your employer can’t mistreat you for choosing to get legal help, and if they do so, you should inform your lawyer of such behavior – you should not hold back from exercising your rights.

Call Our NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers As Soon As Possible

Your lawyer is your best friend in such cases. No matter how much you try to avoid getting legal help in sorting this mess out, it is inevitable. If you want to be fairly reimbursed for your damages, you need to get lawyers involved. Even if you feel that you can’t afford to get legal professionals on board, that should not stop you from contacting our NC workers’ compensation lawyers. Since our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, we’ll handle your case without any advance on our legal fees.

Call us today to get started!

Unlike common negligence situations covered by personal injury laws in states including North Carolina, workers’ compensation laws only cover economic damages caused by any given incident. This means that a worker may be compensated less than what they rightfully deserve and not even know about it.

Thus it pays one to be extra careful about one’s choice in the matter, and it should be a top priority for you to get a workers’ compensation lawyer on board to ensure that you get a fair settlement for all that you had to go through. The laws might be limited, but you have complete rights afforded as a citizen, and you should thus use them.

Let’s begin with understanding what workers’ compensation covers and why you should care about it.

What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?

As noted earlier, workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina only cover the economic aspects of your losses. Normally, personal injury cases should also deal with the non-economic side of the damages as well such as pain and suffering, both physical and psychological.

However, this is not how the workers’ compensation law works.

But you can still claim fair compensation for your medical bills and all the lost wages for the whole duration of being rendered unable to work. This sum should be adequate to cover your losses, and there is nothing wrong with demanding a higher settlement than what your company is offering you.

The company owes it to you to offer a fair settlement if you had to undergo a workplace accident or were put in harm’s way otherwise. In such cases, your right to compensation is very well-defined, and you won’t be betraying your employer by demanding the same.

Just remember that dealing with your employer on your own is never a good idea, thus get a competent workers’ compensation lawyer to help you with the following:

Compensation for Your Medical Treatment

The medical treatment compensation can turn into a tug of war between you and the employer’s insurance company, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Firstly, you don’t necessarily have to miss work to claim medical compensation, i.e. for non-catastrophic injuries.

It is your right to be given an adequate settlement for getting injured and having to get yourself patched up. Keep the medical bills and receipts with you as proof to highlight your sufferings and share the same with your lawyers to get through the whole mess without any trouble.

If necessary, your lawyer can involve experts to prove the severity of your injuries if the insurance company does not buckle.

Monetary Compensation For Disability

Some workplace injuries can leave you with disabilities, either temporary or permanent, forcing you to stay off the work routine for a while.

And of course, for all the work you had to miss because of an accident, you deserve to be compensated as if you worked the whole time. This amount will be based on your original compensation for work, per hour, per day, or per week.

These settlements can be broken down into two categories:

Temporary Benefits: These cover the healing period for the employee, i.e. if they fractured a bone, the company will have to pay them based on their average weekly wage beforehand (two-thirds) if the injury puts them out of work for more than a week. Even if the employee can return to work but has a diminished working capability for some time, the company will have to compensate them for that period.

Permanent Benefits: If the worker’s injury recovers as much as it will but there is still impairment, then the doctor will rule it as a permanent injury and the employer’s insurance company will be liable for the payments. The payments for this are calculated based on the intensity of the disability, thus you should be extra careful before you accept a sum.

Contact Us Today

Getting a professional workers’ compensation lawyer from the NC Workers’ Compensation Lawyers firm is more than about getting your rightful compensation. It is about maintaining a professional relationship with your employer by not engaging in negotiations with them when you’re not emotionally ready to do so.

By taking a step back, you’ll let professionals do what they do best and thus avoid having a scene. This way, not only will you get compensated fairly but also maintain a professional relationship with your employer. Surely, they will understand why you felt the need to hire a lawyer, and this won’t be held against you (and by the law, they can’t).

So, if you’ve run into trouble, call us today!

We all understand how tough it can be to go through a workplace injury with all the financial, emotional, and physical strains on the victim. You’ve probably gone through several articles detailing what you need to do in such cases and how to effectively handle yourself after a workplace injury.

But what about the things you should not do after such an incident? As a group of competent NC workers compensation lawyers, we have seen several instances where small mistakes on part of the workplace injury victims ruined their chances of securing fair compensation.

Not contacting an able lawyer is only one of such mistakes, in this article, we’ll discuss the five most important blunders to avoid if you’re involved in a workplace accident:

#1) Don’t Delay Reporting Your Injuries

People step back from reporting such occurrences immediately out of fear of being fired or because they feel that the effects of the injury will subside after a day or two. But in reality, it is never a good idea to delay reporting your sufferings to your employer.

Your employer can’t fire you for simply getting a slip and fall or any other form of accidental injury; accidents happen – and if your employer had not arranged for adequate protection, then your position in the matter will be even stronger.

If you hold back from reporting your workplace accident injuries, then you’ll give your employer a bigger reason to suspect the validity of your claims. You can’t have that in your case, especially with all the damage you had to take because of the accident.

Moreover, some lawyers won’t even consider your case worth fighting if you unnecessarily delayed reporting it.

#2) Never Hide Any Previous Injuries

If you were injured on work in the past and did not report it, then you must disclose that information in your case, even if your current damages have nothing to do with that previous injury. The same also applies to any injury you may have received outside of work.

By disclosing this information, you’ll avoid being tackled with compensation fraud claims, i.e. the insurance adjuster will suggest that your current condition is related to your previous injuries and not to the incident. If you report those injuries beforehand, then you’ll have a much better fighting chance.

Remember, you should never hide any facts from your lawyer.

#3) Don’t Avoid Giving The Full Picture

Any workplace accident will cause some primary and secondary injuries. You must report all of them in your workplace accident claim to avoid any troubles later one. For instance, a fall may have primarily hurt your back but also caused damage to your leg, trouble with your motor functions, blurred vision, and so on. But if you only report it as a back injury, then you won’t be entitled to proper compensation.

Plus, if you bring it up, later on, the insurance adjuster and your employer will suspect you of insurance fraud. You should get diagnosed immediately and tell your doctor all that you’re feeling so that everything can be documented from the very beginning.

#4) Don’t Refuse To Work If You Can

If you’ve been in an accident but can return to work after a couple of days, then you should do so.

Refusing to work when you are physically able to resume your duties will only affect the validity of your claim. The employer will use your lack of cooperation as a way to prove that you voluntarily caused a loss of income, and thus your compensation will be cut accordingly.

Plus, you can also be rightfully terminated for your refusal to work. If you feel that you can’t continue your work under the current circumstances, you’ll have to report this to your employer with documented evidence of the severity of your injuries.

But as soon as you recover, you should be back to work.

#5) Never Handle Your Case On Your Own

You all knew this was coming and rightfully so, if you decide to handle your case on your own then know that you’ll be the only one in the case without legal representation. Lawyers always strive to ensure that the rights of their clients are not violated (i.e. that you are fairly compensated for your losses.)

Instead of settling as soon as you get the first offer, explore your legal rights first and contact our firm of competent NC workers compensation lawyers so that your interests are represented effectively. Call us today for free legal consultation and more!

A workplace accident can happen without warning. Workplace stress can be overwhelming even for hardy people, especially if they are not adequately protected, denied rest, or over-burdened otherwise. People have to go through excruciating work routines to make an honest day’s earning, but this routine itself can become a financial burden.

Accidents in the workplace can set people back in many ways, but the financial toll is the one that stings the most especially in such a challenging economy. Suppose you’ve been in one (or maybe you actually have and just Googled this to get an idea of what to do next), how should you react to the situation?

Your actions at this point, even though your situation is not the most ideal, will matter a lot in the long run, especially when you get a workplace accident compensation lawyer to represent you in this case. You need to make things easier for yourself so that when you take matters to the court or decide to settle with the insurance company, you have the upper hand.

Here’s what you need to do when you get involved in a workplace accident:

#1) Don’t Delay Seeking Medical Attention

In most cases, you might have to be rushed to a nearby medical care facility, but even if that is not the case, you need to get diagnosed and treated for your injuries as soon as possible. Any delay here will be used against you when you file your compensation claim.

The insurance adjuster will ask questions like “why did you wait too long to visit the doctor if you were in such agony?”

If you can’t go yourself, ask someone to take you for treatment. In any case, you should not delay your visit to a healthcare provider, even if you’re unsure of how much the treatment will cost you, after all, you will be compensated for the losses later on.

Following this initial checkup and treatment, you may need to visit another healthcare facility, one that satisfied your employer’s needs (for verification of your claims) in the case. Plus, you’ll also have to ask your employer if you are covered by worker’s compensation insurance.

Once at the doctor’s place, tell them everything, i.e. how you got injured, how much does it hurt, where does the injury reside, and so on. The more details you can provide, the better. In the end, your doctor will be better able to diagnose the full extent of your sufferings.

You must keep the medical reports and records with you, documentation is of the essence in such cases.

#2) Notify Your Employer About The Workplace Accident Injuries As Soon As Possible

This is another duty which can’t wait.

Don’t delay telling your employer what happened and how, not even a day or two in hopes that the pain will pass and you’ll feel a bit better. As soon as you can, you must report the whole incident, both verbally and in writing (preferably via email) to your employer.

This way, you’ll have documented evidence of having communicated with your employer about the whole incident, and this will matter a lot in your worker’s compensation claim. You should inform your employer of all the important details, i.e. where, when, and how the accident happened.

The employer might ask you to fill a couple of forms, be sure to read everything carefully and report the details as well as you can. Once that is done, keep the copies of any forms you filled and submitted to your employer, your lawyer will want to see those.

#3) Explore Your Legal Rights For a Workplace Accident

Don’t form an impression about your legal position based on what people tell you. Instead, you need to do some exploring yourself too. Google is your friend here for initial advice, but since all cases are different from one another, you should preferably get a professional lawyer involved.

This way, you’ll know the full picture and won’t be in the dark about what to do and what not to do. Just be sure to not go for a settlement immediately after the accident, instead, explore your rights completely before you choose to accept an offer.

Your lawyer should be the first person you discuss your case with.

Contact A Competent Lawyer To Get Started With The Legal Business

Getting competent and experienced NC workers’ compensation lawyers involved in your case is also important if you wish to safeguard your legal rights and avoid being under-compensated for your losses. It is for this reason that you should not delay calling us for an appointment to discuss your case and get free legal consultation, without any obligations so that you can get compensated fairly.

Call us so that we can get started with bringing your employer to compensate you for your losses!

When the pandemic shook the foundations of the global marketplace to its core, no one was certain of survival. However, radical transformations in the business world prevented collapse, and one element that became prevalent in the aftermath of the pandemic was online purchases and home delivery.

Instead of having to leave the comfort and safety of one’s home, one can simply get anything ranging from grocery to the latest videogame release at one’s doorstep with just a few simple clicks. And while this has kept many delivery service people in employment, new concerns have surfaced.

For instance, what if someone suffers from a work injury on one of these delivery runs, would they qualify for compensation under the law of North Carolina?

Delivery injuries are complicated in the way that the incident occurs outside the official workspace but since such injuries happen while a person is doing their job, they can be construed as worker injuries. Thus it is very much possible to seek compensation for the losses caused by such injuries.

But of course, before we understand how that can be made possible, let’s begin with analyzing the causes of such injuries and possible scenarios.

Common Causes For Delivery Injuries

These are some of the most common reasons for such injuries:

Animal Attacks:

Out-of-control pets can cause catastrophic injuries for delivery people. An unleashed pet dog, for instance, can cause serious bite injuries to an unwary victim. The extent of damage in such cases may not always stay limited to simple bite marks and surface damage, it may be as severe as permanent disfigurement, amputation, disability, or an infection from the bite.

Injuries Owing To Dangers Of The Deliverables:

The contents of the deliverable materials can also cause damage to the delivery workers. For instance, potentially hazardous substances, flammable materials, heavy objects, and medical specimens can cause damage if improperly handled. Thus such potential safety risks can create unsafe working conditions for delivery people, and if they cause damage, the victim can demand compensation.

Automobile Accidents:

The driving component of the delivery job also puts a lot of pressure on the workers. There are strict deadlines to meet and tight schedules which creates unwanted stress for the workers, and even the slightest negligence can have disastrous consequences. The negligence may lie in other quarters as well, for instance, maintenance issues with the vehicle or recklessness on part of another driver can also become relevant.

Limits Of Physical Exertion:

The weight of any package should be reasonable enough to not cause unnecessary physical stress on the delivery workers. Extra bulky packages should not be given to an average delivery worker as such items should only be handled by a team of experienced workers. If the weight of the package itself caused some injury to the worker then the company will be responsible for compensating them.

Repetitive Stress Injuries:

Delivering stuff is only one aspect of a delivery worker’s job, there are other things too such as loading the truck which involve several repetitive body movements. Such movements can put stress on the said muscles and cause strains and sprains leading to a severely painful sensation in the affected area and compromised working ability.

Slip And Fall Accidents:

This one is pretty simple and can happen on any surface slippery enough and not labeled or obvious for the unwary delivery worker. In this case, the injuries can be pretty serious too since a straight impact with a hard surface can cause deep trauma for any number of vital areas such as the brain, spine, and ribs (enclosing the vital organs). 

What Sort Of Compensation Can You Hope For?

As a victim of any of the aforementioned injuries or damages, or even something we did not cover that happened while you were performing your duties. Thus it is your legal right to demand compensation for your losses if you feel that somehow the negligence of your employer was a factor, although you can nominate other liable parties as well.

The damages recoverable include:

• Medical bills and expenses
• Payments for disability, temporary or permanent (the latter will get you a bigger sum)
• Death reimbursement to the survivors of a deceased delivery worker who died because of such an incident

However, to get fairly compensated for your losses or to even be appropriately represented in front of the parties involved in your case, you’ll need the services of competent and professional NC Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.

Without adequate legal representation, getting your rightful claim will not be that easy or in most cases, not even possible. You should not delay calling us as we won’t oblige you for anything when you discuss your case with us.

We’re on your side, so hurry up and contact us today!

Unlike common negligence situations covered by personal injury laws in states including North Carolina, worker’s compensation laws only cover economic damages caused by any given incident. This means that a worker may be compensated less than what they rightfully deserve and not even know about it.

Thus it pays one to be extra careful about one’s choice in the matter, and it should be a top priority for you to get a worker’s compensation lawyer on board to ensure that you get a fair settlement for all that you had to go through. The laws might be limited, but you have complete rights afforded as a citizen, and you should thus use them.

Let’s begin with understanding what worker’s compensation covers and why you should care about it.

What Does Worker’s Compensation Cover?

As noted earlier, worker’s compensation laws in North Carolina only cover the economic aspects of your losses. Normally, personal injury cases should also deal with the non-economic side of the damages as well such as pain and suffering, both physical and psychological.

However, this is not how the worker’s compensation law works.

But you can still claim fair compensation for your medical bills and all the lost wages for the whole duration of being rendered unable to work. This sum should be adequate to cover your losses, and there is nothing wrong with demanding a higher settlement than what your company is offering you.

The company owes it to you to offer a fair settlement if you had to undergo a workplace accident or were put in harm’s way otherwise. In such cases, your right to compensation is very well-defined, and you won’t be betraying your employer by demanding the same.

Just remember that dealing with your employer on your own is never a good idea, thus get a competent worker’s compensation lawyer to help you with the following:

Compensation For Your Medical Treatment

The medical treatment compensation can turn into a tug of war between you and the employer’s insurance company, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Firstly, you don’t necessarily have to miss work to claim medical compensation, i.e. for non-catastrophic injuries.

It is your right to be given an adequate settlement for getting injured and having to get yourself patched up. Keep the medical bills and receipts with you as proof to highlight your sufferings and share the same with your lawyers to get through the whole mess without any trouble.

If necessary, your lawyer can involve experts to prove the severity of your injuries if the insurance company does not buckle.

Monetary Compensation For Disability

Some workplace injuries can leave you with disabilities, either temporary or permanent, forcing you to stay off the work routine for a while.

And of course, for all the work you had to miss because of an accident, you deserve to be compensated as if you worked the whole time. This amount will be based on your original compensation for work, per hour, per day, or per week.

These settlements can be broken down into two categories:

Temporary Benefits:

These cover the healing period for the employee, i.e. if they fractured a bone, the company will have to pay them based on their average weekly wage beforehand (two-thirds) if the injury puts them out of work for more than a week. Even if the employee can return to work but has a diminished working capability for some time, the company will have to compensate them for that period.

Permanent Benefits:

If the worker’s injury recovers as much as it will but there is still impairment, then the doctor will rule it as a permanent injury and the employer’s insurance company will be liable for the payments. The payments for this are calculated based on the intensity of the disability, thus you should be extra careful before you accept a sum.

Contact Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Getting a professional worker’s compensation lawyer from the NC Worker’s Compensation Lawyers firm is more than about getting your rightful compensation. It is about maintaining a professional relationship with your employer by not engaging in negotiations with them when you’re not emotionally ready to do so.

By taking a step back, you’ll let professionals do what they do best and thus avoid having a scene. This way, not only will you get compensated fairly but also maintain a professional relationship with your employer. Surely, they will understand why you felt the need to hire a lawyer, and this won’t be held against you (and by the law, they can’t).

So, if you’ve run into trouble, call us today!

Most workers compensation cases involve people who suffer a physical injury at work. Maybe they hurt their knee while working under an oil truck. Or you could have suffered serious burns while working on an oil rig. Most people who go on workers compensation are back on their feet after a few weeks or months. They collect their weekly benefits and then, when they’re ready, they go back to work full-time.

For people who are diagnosed with cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, or another work-related illness, they may never be able to return to work. Their Wilmington workers comp lawyer has to sue for permanent damages. If you’re in a similar situation, it’s time to call and speak with one of our expert attorneys.

Most Work-Related Injuries Are the Result of an Accident

Most of the people Wilmington workers comp lawyers meet with suffered a physical injury at work. They were involved in an accident and hurt their back, neck, or some other body part. Some of the more common work injuries are:

• Broken finger or wrist
• Torn ACL or another knee injury
• Sprained back
• Whiplash
• Contusions and lacerations
• Burns

Any of these can be extremely painful. You may need weeks or months of medical treatment until you’re better. However, for some people, their workers comp case isn’t based on any physical injury. Instead, it’s based on an illness.

You May Become Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

One of the most devastating work-related illnesses is mesothelioma. It is one of the most aggressive cancers there is. People who work near asbestos and other toxic materials end up sick because they constantly breathed in the toxins. In fact, 8 out of every 10 people diagnosed with this type of cancer contracted the illness from exposure to asbestos.

While it’s now illegal to use asbestos in construction, for years it was one of the most common materials in buildings. It was used on pipes, cement, concrete, and bricks. There are even some older pieces of dental equipment that contained asbestos. If you or your loved one contracted mesothelioma through your job, you should call and talk to a skilled Wilmington workers comp lawyer.

Many Workers Require Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Another common illness that is contracted on the job is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is caused when you perform the same wrist action repetitively. This is a very common issue with casino dealers. The only way to address this problem is with surgery. Even after the surgery heals, you may not be able to work again.

Clearly, you won’t be able to return to the same kind of work. In this case, your Wilmington workers comp lawyer will have to sue your employer for permanent disability. The amount you receive will depend on your salary, age, and severity of your injury.

Your Workers Compensation Benefits Will Include Medical Treatment

Thankfully, in addition to receiving replacement weekly wages, you’ll also be entitled to medical coverage. Your employer’s workers comp insurance must cover any medical expenses as long as they’re related to your workplace injury or illness.

When it comes time to settle your case, your Wilmington workers comp lawyer will have to demand a certain amount of money to cover future medical care. Once you settle your claim, you won’t be able to pursue your employer for more money down the road.

Your Wilmington Workers Comp Lawyer May Push for a Lump Sum Settlement

People who suffer a serious illness as a result of their job may not be able to return to work. Even if you work a white-collar job, you may still have to go on disability after your workers compensation claim is resolved. For example, some people end up with cancer due to exposure to dangerous and toxic chemicals. Depending on how serious it is, you may not be able to return to work.

If that’s the case, your Wilmington workers comp lawyer will demand that you be compensated. Clearly, you can’t collect replacement wages forever. In North Carolina, you can only receive workers comp benefits for 500 weeks. This comes out to be just under ten (10) years. At some point, you need to close out your file.

One way to do this is by having your Wilmington workers comp lawyer negotiate a settlement. In order to find out how to best proceed with your claim, call and talk to one of our seasoned Wilmington workers comp lawyers. The initial consultation is free, and you don’t pay anything until your case is settled.

When you get injured at work, you have to follow a certain process. If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, your workers comp claim will be denied. The first thing you need to do is let management or Human Resources know you were hurt. They’ll have you fill out an incident report. They’ll also arrange for you to be taken to the hospital or doctor’s office to get checked out.

You won’t have a choice in what doctor you see. That’s because, according to North Carolina state law, you must be treated by a company-approved physician. Your Wilmington workers comp claim lawyer would have a hard time getting you damages if you refused to be seen by the designated doctor. 

You Must Be Treated by a Company Approved Doctor

Every state has its own workers compensation commission. The commission is responsible for overseeing the workers compensation process. They’re the body that determines if someone’s claim should be paid or not. They put together a list of qualified and approved doctors that you can choose from. If you refuse to get treated by one of these approved doctors, your benefits could be terminated.

Since your employer is the one paying for the insurance, they get to choose which doctors are covered. Is there a likelihood that the doctor will be biased in favor of your employer? Of course, there is. The good news is that your Wilmington workers comp lawyer can always have you get a second opinion.

You Also Have to Follow Your Treatment Plan

In addition to your being required to see an approved doctor, you also need to comply with the doctor’s treatment plan. If you don’t, your employer and the insurance company will say you failed to mitigate your damages and, therefore, should not receive benefits.

Until your Wilmington workers comp lawyer sends you to another doctor, you must continue to work with your workers comp physician. If you feel their treatment plan is not feasible or is making you worse, let your attorney know. They can reach out to your employer’s attorney and try to negotiate you seeing a new doctor. 

Your Wilmington Workers Comp Claim Lawyer Can Get a Second Opinion

There are a couple critical moments in your workers compensation case that you may need a second opinion. For example, if you feel that the treatment plan wasn’t working, you need to let your Wilmington workers comp lawyer know. This may also become an issue when it’s time to go back to work.

If your doctor insists that you’re ready to return to work, they’ll let your attorney and the workers comp commission know. If you’re still in pain or unable to do your job, talk to your attorney. They can have you see another doctor to get a second opinion. If the second doctor doesn’t feel you’re ready to return to work, you may have to file legal action.

You Risk Having Your Claim Denied

There are some people who just stop going to the company-approved doctor. They do their own thing and then wonder why they stopped receiving benefits. You have to keep in constant contact with your attorney. Let them know what’s going on.

Never stop seeing your doctor without first meeting with your Wilmington workers comp lawyer. If you just stop going to treatment, your employer and the insurance company will find out. When that happens, they’ll terminate your benefits. This means your medical treatment may not be covered and you will no longer receive weekly replacement wages. 

Call an Experienced Wilmington Workers Comp Lawyer Today

One of the things a lot of workers comp plaintiffs don’t understand is why they can’t be treated by their own doctor. Most people have a long-standing relationship with their primary physician. They don’t think it’s fair that they have to see a company-approved doctor. They complain that the doctor is going to take their employer’s side. The truth is, they’re probably right about this.

That’s why your Wilmington workers comp lawyer will get a second opinion. There is a chance that your employer’s chosen doctor will side with the insurance company. If you feel that the doctor is rushing you back to work before you’re ready, call our office. Talk to an experienced Wilmington workers comp lawyer who can help. The initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose.