Office Locations Durham Personal Injury Workers Compensation for Durham Employees

Durham Workers Compensation Attorney Helping Injured Workers

Any injury can leave you unable to work, but if you are injured on the job, you may pursue a workers compensation claim. Workers compensation is an income-replacement benefit that will help you pay your bills and will pay your medical expenses while you are unable to work. Generally speaking, workers’ compensation will pay two-thirds of your average weekly pay plus your medical expenses. For many people, workers’ compensation can make the difference between being able to pay their bills and facing severe financial hardship. Unfortunately, the system isn’t always easy for non-lawyers to navigate. A knowledgeable Durham workers compensation attorney can save you valuable time and make sure you get the benefits you need. 

What Does a “No Fault System” Mean for Workplace Accidents?

Another important aspect of workers’ compensation is that it is a no-fault system, which means you can begin receiving benefits even though they cannot determine who caused the accident. In fact, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation even if you caused the accident that resulted in your injury. 

Durham Workers Compensation Covers Both Injuries and Illnesses

For some reason, many people think that workers compensation only applies to injuries that are sustained in industrial accidents. Fortunately, this is not the case. Workers compensation provides benefits to people who were injured or became ill in the course of their employment in a broad spectrum of situations: 

• Injuries due to falls
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Repetitive motion injuries (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Illness and disease due to exposure to hazardous chemicals or substances 

Depending on your needs and the circumstances of your case, workers compensation will cover the following with no deductible or copay: 

• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Long-term care
• Prescription medications

If you were injured while performing your job duties or became ill due to the nature of your work, a Durham workers compensation attorney can help you understand your options. 

A Durham Workers Compensation Attorney Can Help You Get Coverage for Your Disability

Most workers’ compensation claims provide income for only a short period of time – the time you are absent from work or working reduced hours so that you can recover from your injuries. Some accidents, however, can result in permanent disability. Worker’s compensation will pay benefits for both temporary and permanent disabilities, as well as partial and total disabilities. It’s important to document your claim correctly so that you receive the full amount of workers’ compensation benefits for which you qualify. 

Do You Qualify for Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina?

In order to qualify for workers’ compensation, you must meet the following criteria: 

1. You suffered an accident;
2. Arising out of and in the course of your employment. 

As a result, self-inflicted injuries or injuries caused by illegal behavior will not qualify for workers’ compensation. The critical issue in many cases is whether your injury arose from and occurred in the course of your employment. If you were injured at home on the weekend while painting your house, you obviously could not pursue a worker’s compensation claim. On the other hand, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation if you were injured in a car accident to pick up lunch for a meeting with clients. This issue can be more complicated than it appears, but a Durham workers compensation attorney can help you prepare your claim so that it gets approved. 

How long can I receive medical treatment after a work injury in Durham?

An injured worker can receive medical treatment which is reasonable and necessary while under the doctor’s care.  After you get your final payment, you have two years to petition the Industrial Commission to receive additional medical treatment.  Workers injured before July 5, 1994, are entitled to receive lifetime medical treatment.

You must be able to show that the treatment sought is related to the on-the-job injury.  Only those consequences which would reasonably and naturally flow from the on-the-job injury will be paid by the insurance company.  Your Durham workers compensation lawyer will produce evidence to show that the medical treatment is reasonably necessary to effect a cure, provide relief, or lessen the period of the disability. 

What You Should Do if You Have Suffered an Injury or Illness Due to Your Job

The workers’ compensation process is more complex than you might think. Before submitting your claim, there are some very important steps that you should take as soon as possible: 

• Report your illness or injury to your employer. You should do this as soon as possible, but North Carolina requires that you do so within 30 days. The sooner you report your illness or injury, the sooner you can begin receiving benefits. 
• Get a thorough medical examination. It is very important to get a formal medical opinion concerning your injury or illness. Your doctor’s report should diagnose your injury, explain what your limitations are, and explain why you cannot return to work. 
• Follow your doctor’s instructions. Many people jeopardize their workers’ compensation claims by not following their doctor’s orders. This will help you make a full recovery, but it will also strengthen your claim. 
• Meet with a work injury lawyer. An experienced Durham workers compensation attorney can help you collect the information you need to prove your claim. 

Failing to take these steps could jeopardize your claim should you need to file one. The longer you wait to submit your claim, the more difficult it will be to prove.

Understanding the Process for Obtaining Benefits

You do not necessarily need to hire an attorney to pursue a workers comp claim. The process can sometimes be challenging to navigate, especially if your case is complicated. In addition, most people cannot pay their bills unless they work, so you could quickly be facing a financial crisis if your claim is delayed or denied. If you cannot work due to a work-related illness or injury, a Durham workers compensation attorney from Martin & Jones can help you get your benefits as quickly as possible.

The First 30 Days After Your Work Injury 

If you are suffering from a work-related injury or illness, the first step is to report your injury or illness to your employer. This should be done immediately, both verbally and in writing. If you were injured in a workplace accident, your employer’s knowledge of the event may be sufficient. However, at a minimum, North Carolina law requires that you notify your employer of your illness or injury within 30 days.

Once you have reported your injury or illness to your employer, they should file the necessary paperwork with their workers compensation insurance carrier within five days. Then, within 14 days of receiving the claim, your employer or their insurance carrier should inform you that the claim has been accepted or denied. It is important to note that, in some cases, your employer’s insurance carrier may begin paying benefits while retaining the right to deny your claim within 90 days.

Medical Treatment in the First 30 Days

If your claim is approved, your employer’s insurance carrier will begin paying benefits for medical treatment immediately. This does not mean that you should wait for your claim to be approved in order to seek medical treatment. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. However, you should seek guidance from your employer as to whether they or their insurance carrier have an appointed health care provider for work-related injuries and illnesses. This minimizes the risk that you will be personally responsible for any medical bills and facilitates quick payment in the event that your claim is approved.

Whether or not your claim has been approved, it is critical that you follow the physician’s instructions. Failure to follow your treatment plan could result in your claim being denied, even if it has previously been approved.

Your workers compensation claim must be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission within two years of the date you were injured or became ill and unable to work. This is a long time to wait for benefits. If your employer refuses to file the claim, you should contact a Durham workers compensation attorney immediately to discuss your rights.

Wage Benefits in the First 30 Days

Unlike medical benefits, wage benefits are not paid immediately if your claim is approved. Instead, wage benefits will not be paid until you have missed seven days of work. You will be entitled to compensation for the first seven days only if you are unable to work for at least 21 days.

If Your Workman’s Comp Claim Is Denied

As mentioned above, your employers’ insurance carrier must approve or deny your claim within two weeks of the date you became ill or were injured. Workers whose claims have been denied have the right to request a hearing before a deputy commissioner. However, upon receiving a request, your claim will be automatically referred to mediation by a third party. 

If the parties cannot agree to a resolution of your claim, your case will be scheduled for a hearing within 30 to 60 days. While the hearing with the deputy commissioner isn’t a trial, it is very similar.  Both sides will have the opportunity to submit evidence and call and cross-examine witnesses. At the conclusion of your hearing, the deputy commissioner will issue a written decision regarding your claim.

Hearings Before the Full Commission

If the deputy commissioner denies your claim, you have 15 days to file your appeal for a hearing before the full commission. The commission will be composed of three judges who will receive written briefs on your claim and then schedule oral arguments. Similar to the hearing before the deputy commissioner, the full commission will allow the parties the opportunity to submit evidence and call and cross-examine witnesses at the hearing.

If the full commission denies your claim, your only remedy is to appeal the commission’s decision to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Durham Workers’ Compensation Attorney Explains Difference between Workers Comp. and Personal Injury

Filing a worker’s compensation claim does not require a finding of fault. In a personal injury lawsuit, the primary issue is who is responsible for your injuries. You will have to prove that the other person caused your accident and should therefore be held liable for your injuries. It could take months or even years for your lawsuit to come to a conclusion. 

Worker’s compensation, on the other hand, does not require that you prove fault – only that you were injured or became sick in the performance of your job duties. This means that your claim will be approved much more quickly. You will begin receiving your benefits when you most need them. 

That said, there are some limitations. If you file a workers compensation claim, you may forfeit your right to sue your employer. A Durham workers compensation attorney can give you advice as to your options and the best way to proceed. 

What questions should I ask a worker’s compensation lawyer?

Can a Durham Workers Comp Lawyer Help Me if My Benefits are Denied? 

You should contact an attorney to determine whether there are grounds to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation.  Form 18 must be filed with the Industrial Commission within two years of the date of the accident in order for a claim to be properly registered.  Then, the injured worker can file Form 33 Request for Hearing to contest the denial of workers’ compensation benefits.

Normally, it takes several months for a case to be placed on a hearing docket for a deputy commissioner to hear the matter and decide whether or not the injury meets the requirements for workers’ compensation benefits.  The entire hearing process can take an additional six months to a year after the initial hearing occurs.

The insurance company or your employer will have an attorney representing it at the hearing.  While the injured worker can represent his own interests at the hearing, it usually makes sense to have an attorney at this stage.

How is a Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Paid? 

Workers’ compensation cases are handled on a contingency fee basis.  This means that unless there is a recovery or settlement, no fee is paid.  The attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery.  All fees are regulated by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Speak with a Durham Workers Compensation Attorney Today

If you are injured and unable to work, your future is at stake. Let Martin & Jones help you get the benefits you need so that you focus on your recovery.  Call us today at 800-662-1234 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable Durham worker’s compensation attorney.