You may have a lot of questions when you injure yourself at work. Some questions relate to what happens, how you’ll get your medical bills paid, and who’s going to pay you when you’re out of work due to your injury.
The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act might seem confusing. Do you trust your employer, or should you hire an attorney? These are all legitimate concerns and questions.
The lawyers at Mehta & McConnell focus their practice on fighting for the rights of injured workers in the greater Charlotte area and throughout North Carolina.
For over 30 years, we have successfully represented injured workers. We focus our practice on fighting for the rights you deserve. You do not have to go through this alone.
Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina
The North Carolina workers’ comp system is simple. With at-work injuries, workers’ comp insurance pays your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages.
Most workers’ comp claims are taken care of quickly. The worker suffers an injury, gets treatment, is out of work for a while, then returns to full-time work once they are better.
But not all cases are this simple. Sometimes there is a dispute and you need to hire a lawyer to help you win the benefits owed to you.
Under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, you should receive two-thirds of your average weekly gross wages for every week you are off work due to the injury.
Further, these wage benefits are not taxed. This wage benefit is called temporary total disability (TTD) benefits.
If your injury has become permanent, you may be entitled to receive permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. A PPD injury is one where a specific body part is permanently injured.
Your doctor will assign a percentage of disability to that body part. Depending upon that percentage, you will be paid a set number of weeks of PPD.
If your condition is so severe that you are permanently and totally disabled, then you are entitled to wage benefits for the rest of your life.
What If the Work Injury Was My Fault?
North Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act states that it is a no-fault system. This means that it doesn’t matter whose fault the accident was, unless you intentionally injured yourself or were impaired or intoxicated.
Even if the employee is careless and injured themselves, they would still get workers’ compensation in North Carolina.
Can I Settle My Workers’ Comp Claim?
With the help of an experienced North Carolina workers’ comp lawyer, you can settle your claim if the situation calls for it.
Depending on the facts of your case, it may make sense to wait until you reach maximum medical improvement before negotiating a settlement.
This means your healing has reached its limit and there’s nothing else the doctors can do for you. The most common type of workers’ comp settlement is a clincher agreement.
A clincher agreement is where you completely settle all your future rights to workers’ comp benefits, both medical and wages.
After you agree on a dollar amount, then your case is settled and the claim is closed. You cannot go back in the future to ask for more benefits for the same injury.
Contact the North Carolina Workers’ Comp Lawyers at Mehta & McConnell to Get the Benefits You Need
North Carolina’s workers’ comp laws can be confusing and difficult to understand. But we are here to use our decades of experience to help win your benefits. Contact us today to set up an initial consultation.
Viral Mehta
Viral Mehta is the managing attorney of Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, a Charlotte, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law firm. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, sports, and reading.
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