Kinston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Suffering an on-the-job injury in North Carolina can be stressful and confusing. You might be concerned about who will cover your medical expenses, when or even if you will be able to return to work, and what the future holds for your career.

Unfortunately, even experienced employees get hurt more frequently than many people realize, and many such incidents go unreported. If you’ve been injured at work, enlist the services of a Kinston workers‘ compensation lawyer from Whitley Law Firm.

Our Kinston personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling claims like yours. We will use our skills, resources, and vast knowledge of North Carolina workers‘ compensation laws to get you maximum compensation to help put your injuries behind you.

Our Kinston Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Pursue Compensation for You

While some workplace injuries are minor, many are more severe and require longer-term care, treatment, and rehabilitation. Some injuries may become a permanent disability, preventing you from ever returning to work.

Employers in North Carolina pay a workers’ compensation insurance carrier so that employees who are hurt on the job can receive compensation, regardless of who caused the accident or injury.

If you were hurt at work, an experienced workplace accident attorney can help you seek the settlement you need to pay your medical bills and make up for lost wages. Our workman’s compensation law office can also help you go after hidden claims so that you do not leave money on the table.

Workman’s Compensation Benefits You May Be Entitled to

Workers’ compensation claims are unique in several ways. Unlike typical personal injury claims where you can seek non-economic damages, you can typically only receive benefits related to income and medical care with a workman’s comp claim.

If you are experiencing impairment after achieving maximum medical improvement from your medical treatment, your Kinston workers‘ compensation lawyer can discuss with you whether you may be eligible to recoup the loss of future wages, especially if your injury is permanent and disabling.

In addition, if you were hurt due to your employer’s egregiously dangerous or malicious conduct, you may be eligible for additional compensation in certain limited circumstances. Your attorney can examine the facts in your case and advise you on your next steps.

You May Be Eligible to File a Third-Party Lawsuit

Another advantage of speaking with an attorney about your workplace injury is that they could find additional options for your compensation. This might offer critical support, as workers’ comp wage loss benefits only cover about two-thirds of your weekly wages, and they do not compensate you for your pain and suffering.

While you cannot sue your employer directly after a workplace injury, you may be able to sue liable third parties. If this is an option in your case, an attorney can find evidence that demonstrates their negligence and pursue compensation from them.

Kinston Kinston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Near Me (800)785-5000

Injuries and Accidents Our Kinston, North Carolina Attorneys Can Help You With

At Whitley Law Firm, we have years of experience in North Carolina working with injured workers like you. We’ve handled countless cases and, over the years, have learned how to address each type of workplace incident, from office workers to construction workers and from casual employees to federal employees.

You can count on our team to thoroughly investigate and file a workplace injury claim for any of the following accidents:

• Machinery accidents, defective machinery
• Falls from heights
• Falls from ladders
• Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Car and truck accidents
• Accidents caused by farming equipment
• Negligent behavior by a coworker
• Malicious acts of violence
• Construction accidents
• Hazardous chemical spills
• Explosions
• Commercial vehicle accidents
• Falling objects
• Slip and falls
• Long-term carcinogen exposure
• Improperly lifting heavy objects
• Asbestos incidents
• Toxic exposure to chemicals
• Electrical accidents

Common Work Injuries in North Carolina

We’ve also worked with countless injured North Carolina workers and have helped them get the support they need to afford medical treatment and long-term care.

We’re confident we have what it takes to help you seek the benefits you need to manage any of the following conditions after a work accident:

• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Amputation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Rotator cuff tears
• Chemical exposure injuries
• Psychological stress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Burns
• Knee injuries
• Wrist injuries
• Eye injuries
• Occupational illness

Employers and their workers’ compensation insurance companies have a vested interest in denying claims and paying out as little as possible.

As an injured employee, you have rights, and our Kinston workers‘ compensation attorneys can help you protect those rights. We’ll fight on your behalf to ensure that you receive appropriate medical care and all the benefits for which you qualify.

Things to Know About Your Claim

There are many rules involved in North Carolina’s workers’ comp laws. Here are three of the many things you need to know if you suffered work-related injuries:

• You must give your employer written notice of the accident within 30 days
• You must use the medical providers on your employer’s approved list instead of your regular doctor
• In limited situations, you may be able to seek a second opinion or choose your own doctor under workers’ comp, but you typically must see the doctor chosen by your employer
• You may be eligible to recover benefits beyond medical bills and lost wages, such as mileage costs, if you have to travel far distances to obtain medical care

These items are but a few examples of the things you need to know about workers’ compensation claims. An attorney can answer other questions related to your claim, including what to do if you fear retaliation from your employer.

Employer Retaliation

If you have been injured at work, you may be worried that if you report the injury, your employer may fire you. However, it is illegal for your employer to fire you, demote you, change your work duties, or treat you differently because you filed a workers‘ compensation claim.

If you are concerned about your employer’s response to your injury, your Kinston workers’ comp lawyer can advise you on everything from filing your claim to communicating with your employer.

In all instances, consulting with your attorney is critical to ensuring your rights and compensation benefits are protected.

Don’t Wait to Get Started on Your Claim

After getting hurt at work, seeking legal representation from an experienced workers’ comp lawyer might not be your first priority.

You’re probably more focused on getting medical treatment and recovering from your injuries, but filing a claim for workers’ comp benefits should be high on your list of things to do because there’s a statute of limitations for workers‘ comp claims in North Carolina.

How Long do You Have to File a Workman’s Compensation Claim in North Carolina?

According to North Carolina law, you have two years from the date you sustained or discovered your injury to file a claim. If you fail to act within two years, workers’ comp insurance companies can deny your claim, and you could miss out on the workers’ comp benefits you deserve.

Instead of waiting too long to reach out to an attorney and jeopardizing your recovery or running out of legal options, get in touch with the experienced workers’ comp lawyers at Whitley Law Firm today.

Hiring an attorney sooner rather than later ensures that evidence is preserved. Evidence can go missing if the injured worker waits too long to initiate a claim. Talking to us ASAP will give us the time we need to collect evidence and meet important filing deadlines.

Can You Pursue Wrongful Death Benefits Through Workman’s Comp in North Carolina?

If your spouse, parent, or child was killed at work, you may be able to get financial support. What are workers’ comp death benefits? In North Carolina, certain eligible family members may be able to get two types of workers’ comp death benefits:

• Wage replacement benefits: Eligible family members may claim death benefits covering as much as two-thirds of their loved one’s average weekly wage at the time of their death; however, there is a benefit cap for high-wage earners. These compensation checks typically continue for 500 weeks.
• Funeral expenses: Eligible family members may get up to $10,000 to cover their loved one’s funeral expenses, including the cost of funeral services, a casket, and burial or cremation.

Our workers’ compensation law firm can advise you on whether you qualify for these death benefits. If you hire us, we don’t charge you anything upfront. Instead, we take a portion of your lump sum settlement.

What Can I Do if My Claim Was Denied?

The workers’ compensation claims process is complicated and skewed in favor of the insurance company, so workers’ compensation claim denials are not rare. We have years of experience handling workers‘ compensation appeals, so let us help you get the money you deserve and explore what compensation options may be available to you.

Eligible workers deserve fair compensation benefits, so schedule a free consultation today to see how we can help you. We may also be able to find other ways to pursue damages for you.

If somebody other than your employer was responsible for your accident, for example, we may be able to file a personal injury claim if your workers’ compensation case isn’t going the way you had hoped.

Why Our Law Firm Is the Right Choice for Your Case

At Whitley Law Firm, we truly care about the lives of our clients. Our compassionate attorneys work tirelessly to get real results for individuals like yourself, and our impressive case results on even complex workers’ comp cases clearly demonstrate this.

Once you have seen the impressive verdicts and outcomes we have gotten for other North Carolina workers like yourself, you’ll realize that we have what it takes to get the benefits you need to focus on healing rather than worrying about medical bills and lost wages.

We treat our clients like family, and they’ve thanked us again and again for the caring representation we’ve provided. Upon reviewing our client testimonials, you’ll see that our team of Kinston workers’ compensation lawyers is the team you want fighting for workers like you.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Kinston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

At Whitley Law Firm, we not only meet weekly to discuss changes in your case (because we know how quickly things can change), but we also provide responsive, compassionate legal care and communication throughout the entire process. You can count on us to be by your side throughout your case, ensuring everything is done correctly and on time.

Schedule a free consultation with a Kinston workers’ compensation lawyer. They’ll meet with you to discuss your workplace accident, injuries, and options moving forward.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and advocating on your behalf, so schedule your comprehensive case evaluation with our experienced workers’ comp attorneys today.