How Can I Get Compensation for a Construction Site Injury in North Carolina?

 Posted on August 05, 2021 in Personal Injury

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 3,000 North Carolina construction workers suffered an occupational injury or illness in 2019. Around 1,800 of those workers either had to miss time at work or return to work with restricted abilities. Work-related injuries can have severe financial consequences due to the costs of medical treatment and the loss of wages and earning ability. If you have been injured in the course of your work duties on a construction site, it is important to understand your options for securing financial compensation.

Filing a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claim

In most cases, an employee who is injured in the course of their work for a North Carolina employer is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This is true whether the injuries were caused by the negligence of the employer or another party, a freak accident, or the employee’s own actions (provided that the injuries were not a result of the employee’s intoxication, willful violation of a safety rule, or intentional self-harm). Workers’ comp benefits provide for the full cost of necessary medical care for the employee’s injuries, and in some cases, temporary and permanent disability benefits that cover two-thirds of the employee’s lost wages for a duration determined based on the length of recovery and the extent of the employee’s impairment.

For the best chance of success in securing workers’ compensation benefits, it is important that you notify your employer and file your claim as soon as possible so as to avoid missing deadlines. You may also want to hire an attorney to help you resolve any disputes with your employer or their worker’s comp insurance provider, or to appeal a denied claim.

Filing a Third-Party Personal Injury Claim

If someone other than you or your employer contributed to your construction site injuries, you may also be able to file a personal injury claim against a third party. These claims differ from workers’ comp claims in that you will need evidence of the third party’s negligence in order to succeed. For example, you may be able to demonstrate that another employee or contractor created an unsafe environment on the worksite, or that a piece of equipment you were using was defective due to the negligence of the designer or manufacturer.

Third-party personal injury claims may be settled out of court with the negligent party’s insurance provider. An attorney can represent you in your efforts to secure additional compensation for lost wages, as well as non-economic pain and suffering damages.

Contact a Raleigh, NC Construction Injury Attorney

Construction site injury cases can be complicated, and it helps to have an attorney on your side who has experience with both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. At Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC, we will help you understand your options and pursue the best course of action for your situation. Call us at 1-844-YO-PELEO or 844-967-3536 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Wake County work injury lawyers. Hablamos español.

Sources:

https://www.bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/workplaceinjuriesandillnesses_northcarolina.htm

https://www.ic.nc.gov/claimants.html

https://www.bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/fatalworkinjuries_northcarolina.htm