A Guide to Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina

If you were injured at work in North Carolina, you may be eligible for financial benefits called “worker’s compensation,” also known as “workman’s compensation” or “workers’ comp.” If you or your spouse suffered a workplace injury in North Carolina, the Charlotte work injury lawyers of the Ramsay Law Firm can help file a workers’ compensation claim on your behalf. We have over 25 years of experience helping injured workers get the benefits they deserve. To learn more about workers’ compensation in North Carolina, continue reading our guide, which answers commonly asked questions like:

• What is workers’ comp?
• Who is eligible for workers’ comp in North Carolina?
• What injuries qualify for workers’ compensation benefits?
• How much compensation can you get from workers’ comp benefits?

We also encourage you to contact the Ramsay Law Firm for a confidential, completely free legal consultation about your workplace accident. We can help determine whether you or your loved one is eligible for benefits. Contact us online, or call (704) 376-1616 to get started.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a private insurance system governed by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. North Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws are controlled by the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. The Act requires most types of businesses in North Carolina to obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for part-time and full-time employees.

If a worker is injured on the job, he or she may qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits. This applies even if the injury occurred outside of the workplace, such as a car accident involving a delivery driver or traveling salesperson.

Who Qualifies for Workman’s Compensation Benefits in North Carolina?

Almost all types of workers in North Carolina are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits in the unfortunate event of a workplace accident. It does not matter whether the employee has been at their position for a day, or a decade – coverage begins as soon as the employee begins working for the company. Coverage is available for workers in almost every type of job and industry, including:

• Administrative workers
• Carpenters, plumbers, and electricians
• Construction workers
• Factory and warehouse workers
• Nurses and medical workers
• Sanitation and municipal workers
• Teachers and professors
• Truck drivers and bus drivers
• Waiters and waitresses

Some people have a misconception that only the most serious accidents qualify for workers’ compensation. In reality, all types of accidents are eligible for coverage, even if the resulting injuries are relatively minor. Regardless of how you were injured, you should consult with a workman’s compensation attorney to discuss whether you qualify for benefits.

What Injuries Are Covered?

All types of injuries can make a worker eligible for workman’s compensation, as long as the injury occurred in the scope and course of the worker’s employment – in other words, as long as the injury occurred while the worker was:

• Performing his or her job or on an allowed break at his or her company’s premises
• Undertaking activities necessary for his or her job, such as driving to work or a mandatory meeting with a client

Workplace accidents can result in a huge range of injuries, from relatively minor injuries that will heal in a matter of weeks, to permanently disabling injuries that will leave the victim unable to work forever. Injuries of any severity may be eligible for workers’ compensation, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Amputation injuries and lost limbs, fingers, or toes
• Back injuries, such as bulging or herniated discs
• Broken bones (bone fractures)
• Bruises and contusions
• Burn injuries
• Chronic pain
• Cuts, lacerations, and bleeding
• Facial injuries
• Hand and wrist injuries
• Hip and pelvic injuries
• Infections and occupational disease, such as asbestosis
• Internal injuries
• Neck and shoulder injuries
• Joint injuries
• Paralysis or reduced mobility
• Permanent scarring and impairment
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSI), such as carpal tunnel
• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Vision loss and hearing loss, whether partial or complete
• Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries

How Much Workers’ Compensation is Available?

The amount of workers’ compensation a worker can receive – and for how long – depends on factors like:

• How much income he or she was earning before the accident
• The nature of the injury and which body part was affected
• The length of time that the worker is disabled and cannot work due to his or her injuries

Workers’ compensation benefits can replace approximately two thirds, or 66.67%, of the worker’s pre-injury weekly wages. For example, if a worker was earning $800 per week prior to the accident, workers’ comp could provide up to approximately $530 per week.

Additional benefits are also paid to compensate the worker’s “reasonable” medical expenses. This could extend to coverage for:

• Hospitalization
• Medical equipment and devices
• Medication
• Rehabilitative care
• Surgery
• Transportation to and from medical facilities/appointments

Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can File Your Work Injury Claim

If you were injured at work in Charlotte or the surrounding region, turn to the experienced workers’ comp attorneys of the Ramsay Law Firm for legal support you can trust. We have been representing injured workers for decades, and understand how to increase the value of your workplace injury claim. We can also help you explore additional avenues for getting compensated, such as injury lawsuits against third parties like equipment manufacturers. For a free legal consultation about workers’ comp in North Carolina, contact us online, or call the Ramsay Law Firm at (704) 376-1616.

A Voice For The Injured. Here Every Step of The Way.