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.
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