Please Call One of Our board-certified Worker's compensation Specialists For a Free Consultation (833)444-4127
We are passionate about providing excellent representation for our clients. Therefore, If you have suffered a personal injury, it is important to understand benefits you may be entitled to receive. All of our attorneys are North Carolina Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialists and will help you understand your rights.
What Is Workers Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance coverage, which the State of North Carolina requires all employers of 3 or more people to provide. It ensures that if a worker is injured on the job in a way that prevents them from working, all or most of their medical care and a portion of their lost wages will be reimbursed.
Workers’ compensation is a sort of deal between employees and employers. Unless an employee’s on-the-job injury is caused by the employer’s negligence, the employee agrees not to sue the employer. In exchange, the employer must provide—and cannot withhold or delay—workers’ compensation coverage.
What Type Of Worker Qualifies For Workers’ Compensation?
Generally, workers’ compensation is available to all workers who are employed by a company that is required obtain workers’ compensation coverage—which is almost all companies with three or more employees. This includes people who are employed both legally and illegally, both part time and full time.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, including employees of certain railroads, people in domestic service jobs who are hired directly by households, certain farm laborers, certain agricultural salespeople, and “casual employees” (employees who do not do work relating to the regular course of an employer’s business).
Otherwise, though, if there are three or more employees in your workplace, your employer should have workers’ compensation coverage.
Are All Injuries Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
No. Workers’ compensation only covers certain injuries. In order to have your injury covered by workers’ compensation:
Employees are injured at work for various reasons. The physical injuries employees incur are made worse when workers’ compensation insurance companies immediately look for ways to save money rather than move quickly to get the injured worker medical treatment and the benefits they deserve. Cardinal Law Partners fights to help injured workers and have spent 50+ years representing injured workers get the benefits they deserve.
I Was At Fault For My Accident. Can I Still Collect Workers’ Compensation?
Yes, most of the time. North Carolina employees are still eligible for workers’ compensation coverage even if they are technically at-fault for their injury.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. Workers’ compensation can be denied if the accident was intentionally self-inflicted, or was the result of alcohol or drug use.
If you violated a safety rule and the accident happened as a result, it can lead to a reduction of workers’ compensation payments. On the other hand, if the accident happened because your employer violated a safety rule, it can lead to an increase in workers’ compensation payments.
My Employer And/Or Their Insurance Provider Is Trying To Delay, Deny, Or Otherwise Interfere With My Workers’ Compensation. What Do I Do?
Unfortunately, some employers and their insurance companies will try to avoid paying out on workers’ compensation claims, even when they are valid. This can include rejecting claims for unsubstantial reasons, or unduly delaying acceptance of a claim or payment on a claim. While employers and insurance companies are allowed to investigate claims to a certain extent, these “investigations” are often exclusively aimed at disproving a claim whenever possible, and can often become excuses to excessively delay payment in the hopes that a claimant does not follow up and drops their claim.
Moreover, some workers’ compensation offers are not sufficient to cover your medical expenses and lost wages. While workers’ compensation settlements must ultimately be signed off on by a Judge, they will usually go ahead and sign so long as the settlement doesn’t seem absurdly and blatantly unfair.
If you are having any difficulties with workers’ compensation whatsoever, and if you want to ensure you have the best chance at the most substantial offer possible, it is essential that you consult with an experienced, knowledgeable North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.
The right workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate your case and figure out the ideal sum to fight for. They will then help you fight for it, advocating on your behalf against any adversity posed by your employer or their insurance company.
In North Carolina, the workers compensation lawyer to call is Attorney Justin Wraight at Cardinal Law Partners. With offices in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, Attorney Wriaght and his colleagues at Cardinal Law Partners are dedicated to serving the needs of workers’ compensation claimants and ensuring that they get the settlements they deserve. They can also help you with complex cases that involve additional legal factors, such as:
Are you or a loved one looking for a top-of-the-line workers compensation attorney in Raleigh, Greensboro, or Charlotte?
Don’t wait! Sign up for a free consultation on our website today.
