Injured on the job? A work injury can interrupt your pay, your medical care, and your peace of mind. Speaks Law Firm helps people in Fayetteville, NC, and nearby communities pursue workers’ comp benefits, deal with the insurance company, and move their claims forward through a team-based approach. When adversity strikes, who speaks for you? Speaks Law Firm.
Your Fayetteville, NC, Worker’s Compensation Attorneys
Worker’s compensation claims often begin when someone expects their employer to step in after a job-related injury or illness. Many people assume that because they have worked hard and maintained a good relationship with their employer, they will be taken care of if something goes wrong at work. The reality is that employers and workers’ compensation insurance carriers may dispute liability when an employee is hurt on the job. If you suffered an injury or developed an illness tied to your work, you have rights.
At Speaks Law Firm, we are committed to helping injured workers in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and across North Carolina pursue the compensation available to them after a job-related injury. A serious work injury can affect your health, your paycheck, and your family’s day-to-day stability, which is why our team takes a hands-on, collaborative approach from the start. We help people make sense of the workers’ compensation process, address questions about benefits and medical care, and take steps to move claims forward when employers or insurance carriers push back.
At no cost to you, call us for a free case review at (910) 786-5077 or reach out through our contact page to speak with our legal team about your situation. The Speaks Law Firm proudly serves people throughout North Carolina, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Bolivia, Burgaw, Whiteville, Lumberton, Leland, and Shallotte, as well as New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Columbus, Mecklenburg, and Robeson Counties.
Key Takeaways
Here are the main points to know at the start of a North Carolina workers compensation case:
- Workers’ compensation may cover medical care, lost wages, permanent disability benefits, and death benefits when a work injury or occupational disease meets North Carolina law.
- Many North Carolina employers with three or more employees must carry workers compensation insurance, with certain exceptions and special rules.
- Written notice to the employer matters, and filing deadlines can affect whether a claim can move forward.
- A denied workers comp claim does not always mean the case is over; hearings and other procedures may still be available.
- A workers compensation attorney can help with forms, medical evidence, doctor disputes, wage issues, and questions about whether a third-party personal injury claim may also exist.
- Don’t waste time if you’ve been in an accident recently because time is one of the biggest things that can hurt your case. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to connect your injury to the incident, preserve records, and respond to deadlines that affect your claim. Speaks Law Firm encourages injured people to act quickly so the facts can be reviewed early, the right documents can be gathered, and the case can begin moving in the right direction.
Do I Have a Case?
Workers’ compensation claims involve many different types of injuries and accidents, covering a wide variety of situations. If you were injured on the job, you may have legal rights to financial compensation for your injuries and lost income. Here are a few examples of workers’ comp situations that you may be facing:
Common Types of Workers’ Comp Injuries:
- Neck and back injuries
- Spine injuries
- Sprains
- Broken bones
- Bruises and cuts
- Eye injuries
- Burns
- Other common workplace injuries
Common Types of Workers’ Compensation Accidents:
- Commercial trucking accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Machinery accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Construction accidents
- And others
Many injuries that occur on the job are typically covered by workers’ compensation, but there are some exceptions. For example, injuries that happen while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or while committing a crime aren’t usually covered.
Are You Within the Time Limit To Seek Compensation?
After a work injury, timing can affect your claim in several ways. Reporting the incident, seeking medical care, and handling the required paperwork as early as possible can help support your case and reduce avoidable issues. Waiting too long can make it harder to connect the injury to the job or move the claim forward.
Our Fayetteville, North Carolina workers’ comp lawyers are ready to review the details of your situation, explain the next steps, and help you address the deadlines and filing requirements that may apply. If you want to speak with a real person about an on the job injury, our Fayetteville workers compensation lawyers can provide a free case evaluation.
How Workplace Accidents Happen
There are many ways a worker can be injured on the job. Below are some common causes of workplace accidents our attorneys see. If your work-related injury or illness happened for one of these reasons, or for another reason, and you need help filing a workers’ comp claim, call our Fayetteville, NC, workers’ comp lawyers today.
Some of the common causes of workplace accidents include:
- Lifting Heavy Objects: Without proper technique or equipment, lifting heavy objects can cause sprains, strains, and tears. These injuries can be very painful and may require surgery.
- Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents: Improper footwear, slick floors, and poor lighting are all contributing factors to serious slip, trip, and fall accidents in the workplace. Falls can lead to broken bones, dislocated joints, and even brain injuries.
- Hazardous Materials: Many workers who are surrounded by hazardous materials at their jobs may develop serious skin conditions or lung illnesses. These workplace diseases can lead to life-long disabilities.
What To Do After a Work Injury in Fayetteville, NC
After a work injury, the steps you take in the hours and days that follow can affect your health, your claim, and your ability to pursue benefits. Reporting the incident, seeking medical care, keeping records, and handling the claim carefully can all make a difference. If you were hurt at work in Fayetteville, NC, these are some of the first steps to keep in mind:
- Report the Injury in Writing: Tell your employer about the workplace injury as soon as you can. Include when it happened, where it happened, what body parts were hurt, and how the event occurred. Keep a copy for your records.
- Seek Medical Treatment Right Away: Prompt care protects your health and creates medical records of the injury. In North Carolina workers compensation cases, disputes sometimes arise over authorized treatment, referrals, second opinions, and work restrictions. Early medical documentation often helps.
- Be Careful When Speaking With the Insurance Company: The carrier may ask for recorded statements, work history details, or paperwork that affects your claim. Clear and consistent communication matters.
- Track Your Wages and Missed Time: Save pay stubs, work schedules, doctor notes, mileage records, and out-of-pocket medical costs. These documents can help show the financial burden a work injury placed on your household and may help calculate your average weekly wage, lost income, and workers comp benefits.
- File the Proper Claim Paperwork: In many cases, Form 18 plays a major role in starting a workers compensation claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Your employer may also have reporting duties through Form 19.
- Speak With a Fayetteville Workers Compensation Attorney: A Fayetteville workers compensation attorney can review whether the injury appears covered, whether deadlines are close, and whether a hearing or other action may be needed if the insurance company delays or denies benefits. Legal representation may also help if you need a free case evaluation before deciding what to do next.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers compensation benefits can include several forms of support, depending on the injury, the medical treatment involved, the time missed from work, and the worker’s ability to return to the job.
Medical Benefits
Workers’ compensation may cover medical expenses needed to diagnose and treat your work-related injury or illness. This can include medications, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, imaging, referrals, and other approved medical treatment.
Disability Benefits
If your injury or illness prevents or limits you from working during your recovery, workers’ compensation may provide disability benefits to help cover a portion of your lost wages. There are different types of disability benefits that may be available to you at different stages of your claim, including before and after maximum medical improvement.
- Temporary Partial Disability BenefitsIf after you return to work you are unable to earn wages as great as those earned before your injury, you may be able to collect weekly compensation equal to two-thirds of the difference between your pre and post-injury wages.
- Temporary Total Disability BenefitsIf you remain unable to earn wages after the first seven days of a disability, you may be able to collect weekly benefits equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to North Carolina’s maximum compensation rate.
- Permanent Partial Disability BenefitsIf you have a permanent impairment or permanent loss of use to a body part, you may qualify for benefits under North Carolina’s schedule of injuries. The period of payment depends on the body part involved and the degree of impairment.
- Permanent Total Disability BenefitsIn limited situations, North Carolina law provides lifetime permanent total disability benefits. These cases can involve the loss of both hands, both arms, both feet, both legs, both eyes, or any two of those body parts, as well as certain severe paralysis, severe brain injuries, and severe burn injuries. If you qualify for permanent total disability under North Carolina law, you may also remain eligible for medical compensation related to the work injury.
Death Benefits
If an employee dies because of a work-related injury or illness, a spouse, children, or other qualifying dependents may be eligible for death benefits and certain burial expenses.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the time frame in which you have to file your claim. In North Carolina, many workers’ compensation claims must be filed within two years of the accident. This deadline is different from the time frame for reporting the injury to your employer. In many cases, you should report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after the accident. Missing a deadline can create problems for your claim, although some cases may involve different rules or exceptions depending on the facts.
Our Fayetteville, North Carolina workers’ comp lawyers are ready to look over the details of your case, explain how the deadlines may apply, and help you take the next step. If you have questions about how your injuries or your deadlines may affect your claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Liability and Negligence in Workers’ Compensation Cases
Liability works differently in workers compensation than it does in a standard personal injury case. A workers comp claim usually does not center on proving the employer acted negligently in the same way a car wreck or premises liability case would. Instead, the focus often falls on whether the injury fits the statute, whether the medical treatment relates to the job, and how the injury affected the worker’s ability to earn wages. That is why workers compensation is often described as a no fault system.
North Carolina workers compensation law also limits direct claims against a covered employer in many situations. At the same time, some work injuries involve a third party. For example, a delivery worker may suffer injuries in motor vehicle accidents or a car accident caused by another driver, or a contractor may be hurt by unsafe equipment supplied by someone outside the employer. In those situations, workers compensation and a separate personal injury claim may both need review.
That overlap matters because workers compensation cases and personal injury cases do not pay the same kinds of compensation. A careful review can help identify what paths may be available and what deadlines may apply to each one.
How Can a Workers Compensation Lawyer Help?
Workers’ compensation claims may become complicated, especially if there’s a dispute about whether the injury happened on the job or if the accident involves a third party. If you try to handle your case on your own, your claim could be delayed or denied, or you could end up accepting less compensation than your case may support. Working with a workers’ compensation attorney can help support your claim. Your employer’s insurance company has a team of attorneys on its side, so why shouldn’t you?
The team at Speaks Law Firm has decades of experience handling workers’ comp claims and standing up for injured workers in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Our workers compensation lawyers can help build a clear connection between your injury and your workplace and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses under the law. If your claim has been denied or your employer is retaliating, we may be able to file an appeal while protecting your legal rights. We can handle the legal details of your claim while you focus on your health and moving forward.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in North Carolina
Notify Your Employer
The first step to filing a North Carolina workers’ comp claim is to notify your employer of your injuries or illness. Regardless of whether you’ve given verbal notification, you generally must report your accident to your employer in writing within 30 days.
It is then your employer’s responsibility to notify the North Carolina Industrial Commission. You can also file a Form 18 directly with the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which will then send your employer’s insurance company notice of your claim.
Be sure to include the date of your accident, your injuries, and a detailed account of what happened.
Seek Medical Attention
In addition to reporting your injury/illness to your employer, you should also seek immediate medical attention. Your employer has the right to select the doctor who will provide your medical treatment for a work-related injury/illness. While you may visit your own doctor, you are required to see any doctor your employer designates.
After receiving medical attention, it’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment instructions. Failing to do so can create problems for your workers’ comp benefits.
Consult a North Carolina Workers’ Comp Lawyer
If you’re struggling with any part of the workers’ compensation system or your claim has been denied, it may help to speak with an attorney who handles workers’ comp claims.
Having the right attorney on your side can make all the difference in your claim. At Speaks Law Firm, our attorneys know the Fayetteville workers’ comp laws and can help protect you from being taken advantage of by your employer or its insurance company.
What’s more, we can handle all the paperwork and hassles of your claim so you can focus on your health. All you have to do is call us.
How Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Speaks Law Firm Can Help You in Fayetteville
Help Is Fast & Easy
We work to make the process as quick and easy as possible. As soon as you call us, we’ll start reviewing your case!
Pursuing Compensation
We will help you pursue compensation for lost wages and medical bills. Our experienced attorneys will fight for fair and appropriate compensation under the law!
No Fees Unless We Win
We work on a contingency-fee basis, so you never have to worry about expensive hourly legal fees or upfront costs. In fact, you won’t owe us a penny unless we win for you!
We Know This Is Hard. We’re Here for You
Suffering an injury or illness because of your job not only affects your health but also your career, finances, and personal life. Even though you’re dealing with serious injuries, life doesn’t stop. Your medical expenses and monthly bills may be piling up and, if your injury prevents you from working, you might not have a way to keep up with your payments. A workplace accident can throw your life into chaos. We see it happen every day.
You should never have to worry about how you’re going to pay your bills and support your family after a workplace injury or illness. Our attorneys at Speaks Law Firm recognize what you’re going through and are here to help you through each stage of the way.
Hurt on the Job? We Can Help With Your Claim! Workplace Injuries? Speaks Law Firm Speaks for You! At No Cost to You, Call Us for a Free Case Review
A work injury can turn your life upside down. Speaks Law Firm has worked with injured workers across North Carolina for years, and we know how quickly a job-related accident or occupational illness can affect your health, your paycheck, and your family’s day-to-day stability. When you are dealing with pain, medical treatment, and pressure from the insurance company, even simple decisions can start to feel heavy.
Many of the people we speak with are going through one of the hardest periods of their lives. The stress of how you’re going to pay your bills, keep up with medical care, and move forward while you are out of work can feel overwhelming. Some are facing a denied claim, delayed benefits, or questions about whether their injury qualifies at all. If you are dealing with a Fayetteville workers compensation claim, our team is here to support you and help you take the next step.
At no cost to you, call us for a free case review at (910) 786-5077 or reach out through our contact page to speak with our legal team about your situation.