North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Have you been injured at work or diagnosed with an illness due to exposure to dangerous substances on the job site? You likely have a valid workers’ compensation claim.
However, getting full compensation can be a challenge. At the Joel Bieber Firm, we’re proud to represent injured workers throughout the claim process and help them maximize their payout.
We also help workers overcome the many obstacles they might face while pursuing workers’ compensation claims, such as:
- Unreasonable claim denials
- Delay in the payment of claims
- Difficult bosses
- Appeals and hearing
You can trust the Joel Bieber Firm to fight for your interests as we have for so many other workers. Call our office today to speak with an experienced North Carolina workers compensation lawyer.
Workers’ Comp Benefits in North Carolina
North Carolina law requires all employers with three or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Some exceptions exist, but as a generality, providing workers’ compensation coverage is mandatory for businesses.
What to Do After an Injury at Work
If you’re injured on the job and hope to claim workers’ compensation benefits, you must seek medical treatment from a healthcare professional chosen by your employer or their insurance company. Don’t wait to get treatment, and make sure you notify your employer of your injury and intentions right away.
Once you’ve received your initial treatment, you’ll need to file a claim for compensation based on your medical evaluation. You should consider meeting with a knowledgeable North Carolina workers compensation lawyer at this time to better understand the full extent of your rights.
Types of Benefits You Might Receive
If you’re approved for benefits, your employer’s insurer will cover your medical bills as well as any wages you’ve lost due to your inability to work. How long you continue to receive these benefits will depend on the specific classification of your disability.
Total Disability
If your injury is deemed total yet temporary, you’re eligible for two-thirds of your average weekly wage for up to 500 weeks unless you were injured before June 24, 2011, in which case there’s no duration limit. In some cases, the 500-week period may be extended.
You may be eligible for lifetime payments if your injury is classified as permanent and total. A permanent, total disability occurs when a worker loses two key body parts, such as both hands, both eyes, or a leg and an arm. Traumatic brain injuries, burns, spinal injuries, and paralysis may also qualify you for permanent total disability.
Partial Disability
A temporary partial disability permits you to work, but not as much as you did before the injury. Your wage replacement will be two-thirds of the difference between your average income and your reduced post-accident income. These weekly payments may last up to 500 weeks under current law.
Work Injury Lawsuits
As you may already know, you can’t sue your employer if they carry workers’ compensation insurance, even if they were found to be negligent.
Workers’ compensation is meant to shield against personal injury lawsuits in the workplace, but it doesn’t always, as benefits may not cover all of the losses you suffer from a work-related injury.
For example, you may lose out on up to a third of your lost wages with workers’ compensation insurance and compensation for your non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, inconvenience, and diminished quality of life.
However, you may have the option of filing a lawsuit against a third party determined to be responsible for your injury.
Consider a negligent driver who hits a supermarket employee in the store’s parking lot. In this situation, the injured employee could likely file suit against the driver for those damages not covered by the store’s workers’ compensation insurance.
Time Requirements for Workers’ Compensation Claims
Time limits apply to workers’ compensation claims. Failure to meet these deadlines can result in your claim being ruled invalid.
First and foremost, you must notify your employer of the accident in writing within 30 days of its occurrence. However, it’s a good idea to inform them as soon as possible after you’re injured to give your claim the best chance of success. You’ll also want to ensure that your employer files a report on the occurrence.
After that, you have two years to file a workers’ comp claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). If you’ve contracted a disease or other long-term condition due to your work, you have two years from the time you became disabled and aware of the sickness.
Our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyer Are Ready to Meet With You
Contact the Joel Bieber Firm today to speak with one of our seasoned North Carolina workers compensation lawyers. We’ll assess the details of your workplace injury and help you move forward with your claim.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can still get access to the compensation you deserve if you’re meeting with resistance from your boss. Again, the most efficient way to deal with this problem is to have an experienced lawyer in your corner. They can help you navigate tricky disputes and ensure the success of your claim.
You can always appeal your claim in the event that it’s denied. However, you shouldn’t do so without legal representation. An attorney will be able to understand exactly why your case was rejected and what must be done to get it approved.
In some cases, simple errors and technicalities are cause for denial. However, many other cases are denied unreasonably by insurance companies trying to save money.
Yes. If you want to get the most out of your workers’ compensation benefits, it’s strongly recommended that you work with an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer.
You should plan on hiring a North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after your injury. Even if you’ve already begun the claims process on your own, you should still consult with an attorney, especially if you’re running into problems with the insurance company, your employer, or their healthcare providers.