Breaking News: Worker Engulfed in Flames Assumed Workers’ Compensation Will Cover His Damages, Learned Otherwise

Charlotte, North Carolina — November 4, 2024 — According to WSOC-TV, Yacoub Mayeghba worked on cars at Royal Auto Body and Royal Cab last December, where he was hurt at work and suffered burns all over his body. Mayeghba was working when a fire broke out, and flames consumed the building and cars.

“He was very terrified. It scared him. He was engulfed in flames and just covered in flames,” a translator for Mayeghba said.

He says he ended up with burns on his arms, legs, and torso. He says he doesn’t remember much after that and that he woke up in the hospital about three months later.

He assumed workers’ compensation insurance would cover the bills but says it didn’t.

According to North Carolina Secretary of State records, at least one company official has ties to both businesses.

His friend, Cheikh Ebedda, also using a translator, says he worried every day. “Not knowing if his friend’s going to survive, if he’s going to die,” the translator said.

“It’s actually a miracle he’s alive,” said Mayeghba’s lawyer Jill Calvert.

She claims the businesses should have carried workers’ compensation insurance under the law but didn’t. So, she says, taxpayers footed the bill. “All the medical bills, which were almost $2 million, ended up being paid by Medicaid,” she said.

But she says he still has other expenses, such as permanent disfigurement, future medical bills, and lost wages. Mayeghba says without working, he’s hurting for money so much that he’s homeless. “He’s just [living] at a tire shop. So, they have a small little room designated to them,” the translator said.

They filed a claim with the state and are starting that process.

Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke contacted both Royal Auto Body and Royal Cab, even hand-delivering letters to them, but neither responded in time for this report.

Remember workers’ compensation rules:

• In North Carolina, employers with three or more employees need workers’ comp.
• Part-time workers count.
• But sometimes employers try to outsmart the rules by labeling workers “independent contractors” instead of employees. The states warn against that.

If you think an employer is breaking the law in North Carolina, tell the N.C. Industrial Commission.

Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Mayeghba as he continues his recovery.

The Ramsay Law Firm has attorneys who are Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation claims to help individuals with severe injuries and death claims.

A Voice For The Injured. Here Every Step of The Way. Call 704-376-1616 or contact us online.

Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.