Workplace Heavy Lifting Injury Attorneys in Charlotte, NC

The Charlotte work injury lawyers of the Ramsay Law Firm have more than 25 years of experience fighting for compensation on behalf of disabled workers and their family members. If you or your spouse was injured at work due to heavy lifting or repetitive lifting, our attorneys can help you file a workers’ compensation claim, appeal if your claim was denied, or work to restore benefits that were improperly reduced, suspended, or terminated.

Our founding trial attorney, Martha Ramsay, is a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist in North Carolina, and brings extensive knowledge of the law to each client’s case. We can work to maximize the benefits you are awarded while handling every step of the legal process for you.

Contact our law offices for a free legal consultation if you or a loved one recently sustained a lifting injury at work in Charlotte. To discuss your claim confidentially with our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys at absolutely no cost, call the Ramsay Law Firm at (704) 376-1616 right away.

Work Injuries Caused by Lifting Heavy Objects

Even the strongest person can suffer a disabling injury from lifting heavy objects at work. In fact, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace.

In 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 36% of injuries involving missed workdays were the result of shoulder and back injuries” related to heavy lifting. While OSHA makes recommendations for proper lifting techniques, employers sometimes fail to teach employees these techniques, or fail to supply the necessary support gear.

Lifting injuries can occur abruptly if a worker accidentally pushes themselves too hard. This type of injury, called an “overexertion” injury, is especially likely to occur if:

  • A worker is required to lift an object without receiving the proper equipment, such as a brace or moving strap.
  • An accident occurs at the workplace or while the employee is performing his or her job duties. For example, an object could fall onto the employee, or the employee could accidentally slip and fall.

In other cases, lifting injuries develop gradually over a period of weeks, months, or even years, going unnoticed until the physical symptoms begin to appear. Injuries that build up and worsen over time are called “cumulative trauma.”

Regardless of whether tissue damage occurs slowly or suddenly, many types of workers are at risk for lifting injuries that can harm the joints, bones, muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments. The lifting injury lawyers of the Ramsay Law Firm represent employees from a diverse range of industries, including:

  • Carpenters and Joiners
  • Caterers
  • Construction Workers
  • Furniture Movers
  • Janitors and Custodians
  • Landscapers
  • Maintenance Workers
  • Nurses
  • Office Workers
  • Retail Workers
  • Waiters and Waitresses

Our legal team help you pursue compensation for a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries, joint injuries, and soft tissue injuries caused by heavy or repetitive lifting. Examples of lifting-related work injury claims we handle in Charlotte include:

Can You Get Workers’ Compensation for Heavy Lifting Injuries in NC?

If you are injured at work in Charlotte due to lifting heavy objects, it is probable that you will qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, or “workers’ comp.” With a few specific exceptions, such as railroad workers, the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act generally makes part-time and full-time workers eligible for benefits after a lifting injury occurs. Additional exceptions apply for self-inflicted injuries, injuries caused by the victim’s own intoxication, and certain types of professionals, such as sole proprietors and limited liability company (LLC) members.

Benefits are capped at approximately 66.66% of the worker’s average weekly wage prior to sustaining the injury. For instance, if you were earning $750 per week before your injury, your maximum weekly award would be approximately $500. Additionally, state law establishes a weekly maximum limit of $978, to be increased in 2018. Though benefits are normally paid on a weekly basis, some workers opt to receive monthly payments.

Benefits may be awarded for up to 500 weeks, or approximately nine and a half years. However, some employees receive benefits for a much shorter period, while others continue receiving payments for the rest of their lives. The duration of benefits depends on the nature and severity of the injury, and its effects upon your earning capacity.

Don’t wait another day to pursue compensation for your lifting injury at work. For a free consultation with an experienced workplace lifting accident lawyer in Charlotte, call the Ramsay Law Firm at (704) 376-1616.