Are Remote Workers Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in North Carolina?

Remote Workers Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys at the Ramsay Law Firm, P.A., have represented injured workers for over 25 years. We understand that no two occupations, roles, workers like you, or your injuries are the same.

What we do know is, if you are hurt at work, our North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act is here to protect you, and help provide access to the benefits you need to recover — and so are we.

As working from home becomes more common, many individuals who telecommute do not realize they may have the same rights as the on-premises employees if they are injured at home.

The reality is, the legal lines get blurry regarding what workers are entitled to if they endure a work-related injury off company property.

If this has happened to you, our North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney can help determine when you might be entitled to benefits.

Can I Pursue Workers’ Compensation If I Am Hurt While Working from Home in North Carolina?

There is an old saying, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” That may seem like how you feel after you are hurt while working from home.

While getting hurt at work may provide supporting evidence in the form of witnesses, or proof of an actual cause — like a slip and fall, falling object, or machine malfunction — work-from-home injuries are typically seen and felt by only you.

These things may factor into the way your employer, their insurance provider, and the courts view your case.

Work-from-home injuries are going to rely even more on the unique circumstances of the injury.

In many cases, a work-related injury that occurs while an individual is working from home can be covered by workers’ compensation if the injury occurs within the scope of employment. The more closely you can tie the incident and resulting injury to your work, the stronger your case will be.

For example, many of the conditions that commonly accompany office work can happen in a home office too. They may include neck, back, and wrist injuries, and other stress or repetitive motion injuries.

Many work-related injuries could occur with the same severity either on company grounds or while working from home. If you can prove that the injury happened while performing a work-related task, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation.

Tips For Building a Work-From-Home Workers’ Compensation Claim in North Carolina

If you are injured while working from home in North Carolina, be prepared to prove that you were asked or required by your employer to perform the work task that led to your injury.

Next, take the same steps an on-premises employee would if he or she were hurt at work:

• Notify your employer of your injury, both orally and in written form, as soon as possible.
• Seek medical care for your injury as soon as you can. This is important to both your physical and emotional well-being, and to help build your workers’ compensation claim.
• Record all evidence of your medical visits, and retain all documentation regarding your injuries, hospital bills, treatment, and future appointments. The more documentation you can present, the stronger your case will be.

Contact our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys to review your claim. Our Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation attorneys and skilled team of lawyers and support staff in Charlotte are here to manage each detail of your case.

Contact Our Dedicated Workers’ Compensation Law Firm in Charlotte, North Carolina

Our dedicated workers’ compensation law firm provides free consultations to workers who have been injured while working from home, in offices, on construction sites, and elsewhere by calling 704-376-1616 or contacting us online.

Ask Martha for Help Today.

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