Key Takeaways
- In North Carolina, workers must report a work-related injury or illness to their employer within 30 days and apply for workers’ compensation within two years.
- Compensation may cover medical bills, devices, and prescriptions as well as travel expenses for medical appointments. Workers may also receive disability benefits and a percentage of lost wages.
- Workers who face any kind of challenge obtaining fair compensation for their injuries should consult a workers’ compensation lawyer.
At the personal injury law firm of Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys have decades of experience fighting for injured workers’ rights to fair financial compensation. We serve clients throughout the Charlotte area and the surrounding parts of North Carolina.
Our attorneys have in-depth experience advocating for injured workers in the state workers’ compensation system and on behalf of federal railroad employees under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA).
Workers’ Compensation Reporting Deadlines in Charlotte
Any work injury or illness that occurs in Charlotte or throughout North Carolina needs to be reported to the employer within 30 days from the time that the employee knows that they have been injured or become ill due to a work-related cause.
However, after reporting an injury or illness to an employer, there is an overall statute of limitations in place for work injuries and illnesses in North Carolina. The statute of limitations gives injured workers two years from the date the injury or illness occurs to submit an application for NC workers’ compensation benefits. Failing to file a claim within this time frame will result in the injury victim is unable to recover the compensation they are entitled to.
It is important to note that employers in North Carolina are barred by law from taking any adverse action against an employee simply because the employee reports an injury or files a workers’ compensation claim. Many workers are afraid to report an injury or illness because they fear that their employer will retaliate against them, perhaps even terminate their employment. All injured workers in Charlotte are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they sustain an on-the-job injury or illness.
What Type of Injuries Do We Help Clients With?
The attorneys at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC have extensive experience helping clients who have sustained a wide range of on the job injuries or illnesses. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Severe sprains or strains
- Soft tissue injuries like lacerations and puncture wounds
- Burn injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Accidental poisonings
- Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs)
What Kind of Compensation is Available?
There may be various types of compensation available to Charlotte work injury victims. The goal of the North Carolina workers’ compensation system is to help ensure that any injury victim receives the compensation they need so they can recover as quickly as possible. Some of the types of compensation that our Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyers help clients recover includes the following:
- Complete coverage of medical bills
- Compensation for medical devices or prescription meds
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- Compensation for disability benefits
Additionally, work injury victims in Charlotte will usually be able to receive lost wages if they cannot work while they recover. Lost wages under the North Carolina workers’ compensation system provide 66 2/3% of the injury victim’s average weekly wage.
The total amount of compensation a work injury victim in North Carolina receives will vary depending on the circumstances related to each particular situation. Some factors that determine how much compensation of victim receives include the severity of their injuries, the length of their recovery, and whether or not they are able to return to any type of work while they recover.
Fees in Workers’ Compensation Cases
In workers’ compensation cases, we collect attorneys’ fees from our injured clients on a contingency fee basis only. This means that we do not get paid unless and until our clients collect the workers’ compensation owed to them. Unlike some other law firms, we do not take a fee on our clients’ weekly disability benefits when a workers’ compensation insurer admits these are owed and admits the compensability of a claim.
When Should You Consult a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Charlotte, NC
If you have a minor injury and your workers’ compensation application is accepted without complaint, then you may be able to navigate the system without legal assistance. However, if you have any trouble obtaining compensation, we recommend getting help from a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte.
Signs that point toward the need to get a Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyer on your side include:
- Significant workplace accidents involving back injuries, injuries requiring surgery, or catastrophic injuries, such as brain damage or paralysis
- Accidents caused in whole or in part by broken or defective machinery or non-employee contractors — in these cases, we may be able to pursue additional compensation in a private personal injury lawsuit
- Incorrectly calculated disability benefits
- A return-to-work order from your workers’ compensation doctor before you are fully recovered
- An impairment rating that does not accurately reflect the extent of your injuries
- An insurance company’s refusal to approve necessary medical treatment
- Denial of your workers’ compensation claim
Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with a highly skilled workers compensation lawyer in:
