When you go to work, you expect to stay safe and healthy. You believe that your employer is following the rules and laws that apply to your industry and is doing what they are supposed to do in order to protect employees from harm. Unfortunately, there are times when that doesn’t happen, and the consequence may be an accident that injures employees. A workplace accident can be devastating because it may cause serious harm and could prevent you from working for a period of time. On-the-job injuries are typically handled through workers’ compensation. It is helpful to understand what to do if you experience a workplace injury.
Seek Medical Care
If you get hurt at work, you should immediately take steps to care for your injuries. Stop what you are doing and go to the hospital or doctor. Don’t try to handle the injury on your own because it could get worse without treatment. Importantly, if you fail to quickly seek medical care you could jeopardize your claim. It can make it more difficult to prove that the injury occurred at work. Make sure that you follow the doctor’s instructions and be sure to return for any follow-up appointments when needed. Your medical expenses should be covered by your employer through workers’ compensation.
Report the Injury
If you are hurt at work, you are required by North Carolina law to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. It is best to report it immediately, but you must report it within 30 days of the occurrence. If you do not report the injury, you could risk your claim being denied. Follow the policy your company has in place. If they don’t have a policy, make sure you report the injury in writing and include the specific details of the injury as well as where, how, and when it happened.
File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
It is essential that you make sure to file a workers’ compensation claim in a timely manner. Fill out a notice of accident form and submit it to the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). This form is technically called Form 18, Notice of Accident to Employer and Claim of Employee, Representative, or Dependent. Filing this claim protects your rights and starts the process to secure benefits. File the form as soon as possible, but no later than two years from the date of the injury. Be sure to gather the necessary documentation before you file a claim.
Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Your employer has workers’ comp insurance to cover medical costs and wage replacement while you are unable to return to your job. Benefits may also include compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or permanent partial disability. It may also include rehabilitation or retraining to assist you in finding alternate employment if your injury will not allow you to return to your job. Your employer’s insurance provider will investigate the claim and approve or deny it.
Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
The workers’ compensation claim process isn’t always easy. Many claims are denied, sometimes due to inadequate documentation. If a claim is denied, it can be devastating to you and your family, and it could result in a financial disaster. A knowledgeable attorney will assist you through the claim process and will help you resolve problems, such as a claim denial. To find out more about workers’ compensation after workplace accidents, contact our law firm, Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to speak with our legal team.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/workers_compensation
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/men-on-roof-1497990
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