In the state of North Carolina, all employers are required, by law, to provide workers’ compensation insurance to their employees—whether through a private insurance carrier or self-insurance. With very few exceptions, this is a way to ensure that all injured workers have access medical treatment and that they are able to maintain financial stability in the time of their recovery.
Depending on the nature of the injury, a worker may be able to claim a variety of different benefits—including temporary total disability (TTD), permanent total disability (PTD) or permanent partial disability (PPD).
Each of these claims cover the cost of any medical treatment that an injured employee has undergone and reimburse them for a percentage of the wages that they have missed out on while they were unable to return to work. If the injury is permanent in nature, however, a worker may be entitled to more extensive benefits for an extended period of time.
So when can an employee file for workers’ compensation benefits? Fortunately, a worker may claim these insurance benefits for a wide variety of injuries, regardless of who was at fault for causing them. In many cases, a worker can still recover compensation if they, themselves were responsible for causing the injury. It is important to understand, however, that an employee may be able to concurrently pursue a personal injury lawsuit if the accident was caused by a third party’s negligence.
For example, if a construction worker was injured in a heavy machinery accident due to the equipment’s faulty design, they may be able to claim workers’ compensation from their employer in addition to pursuing a civil lawsuit against the makers of the defective product. As such, it may be a wise decision to speak to an experienced lawyer in the wake of any type of workplace accident.
At the Whitley Law Firm, our experienced legal team is available to assist injured workers in recovering compensation either through a personal injury lawsuit or workers’ compensation benefits.
We understand that every case is different, so we like to take the time to review the circumstances of the accident in which our client was injured and ensure that we implement the appropriate legal strategy. Unfortunately, we have seen all too many workers provided with the minimum amount of compensation. At our firm, we believe in fighting for the maximum—regardless of what steps we must take to obtain it.
For this reason, we encourage you to contact our firm today and tell us about your case. The initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by enlisting the professional help that you are looking for. Call today to learn more.
