Are You Aware of Your Rights Under North Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Laws?
May 15 , 2022At the Ramsay Law Firm, P.A., our experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys have been giving a voice to injured workers for more than 25 years.
At times, that means separating workers’ compensation-related misinformation from a North Carolina worker’s actual rights.
The very first thing employees should know is who is entitled to workers’ compensation in North Carolina.
If you work for a company that employs three or more full-time workers, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured on the job.
Here is what else the North Carolina workforce needs to know about their rights:
You Have the Right to Pursue Workers’ Compensation Regardless of Immigration Status.
In North Carolina, your immigration status does not impact your right to pursue workers’ compensation.
Eligible employees who work for qualifying companies may pursue workers’ compensation even when they are undocumented workers.
Although an employer may have grounds to release an employee when it discovers he or she is undocumented, the workers’ compensation carrier cannot deny the claim based on the employee’s immigration status if the employee gets hurt at work.
The workers’ compensation insurance company is not allowed to deny a claim due to immigration status. Period.
You Have the Right to Refuse Your Employers Offer to Pay Cash for Your Injuries
If your employer offers a cash settlement for your injuries — including the financial support for medical bills — instead of submitting a claim with their workers’ compensation insurance carrier, you can deny their offer.
The “system” of an employer voluntarily paying for an employee’s medical bills and time away from work — instead of filing a claim — is unreliable.
Employees are entitled to certain benefits under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act including medical care, wage replacement based on their impairment rating and permanent partial disability rating, if the latter is applicable.
Employees should always report workers’ compensation claims to the insurance company because it is impossible to know how severe the injury is until they receive proper medical treatment.
You Have the Right to Choose Your Doctor to Seek a Second Opinion
If the insurance company accepts your claim, it gets to direct your medical treatment. If you are unhappy with the treatment you are receiving, you are entitled to see your doctor for a second opinion for treatment and to ensure your impairment rating and/or permanent partial disability rating is accurate, so you are receiving the replacement wages you are entitled to by law.
Contact Our Dedicated Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina For Help Today
Our dedicated workers’ compensation law firm provides free consultations to all injured North Carolina employees by calling 704-376-1616 or contacting us online
Our Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation attorneys and a skilled team of lawyers and support staff in Charlotte are here to manage each detail of your case, so you can focus on your recovery.
All Workers Welcome. Ask Martha for Help Today.
A Voice For The Injured. Here Every Step of The Way.
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