Raleigh Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Raleigh is one of the top cities in the U.S. for jobs, according to Glassdoor. People here spend a lot of time and energy at work. Sometimes, unfortunately, a workplace injury happens. If injured workers can’t go to work, how are they supposed to pay their medical bills? That’s where workers’ compensation benefits can come into play.
An experienced Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyer can help answer your questions. At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, several of our workers’ comp team members have been helping injured North Carolina workers for 10+ years, guiding each client through the process of their workers’ compensation claim.
The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has been named to the 2023 edition of the “U.S. News – Best Lawyers” ‘Best Law Firms’ annual national ranking list for the eighth consecutive year.3
For 2023, the firm again ranked in Tier 1 (the highest ranking) in the Raleigh metropolitan area for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants.
How Much Does Workers’ Compensation Pay?
Workers’ comp benefits, through your employer’s insurance company, typically pay expenses for a recipient’s medical treatment and lost wages. In North Carolina, you may be entitled to receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage each week while you are unable to work because of your workplace injury.
Some workers may wonder if they are considered independent contractors or if their employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance with your workers’ compensation claim. Consult with an experienced Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyer to help you fight for the benefits you may deserve.
If I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Raleigh, How Soon Can I Get Benefits?
In North Carolina, injured workers have to be out of work for at least seven days because of work-related injuries before they are eligible to receive wage loss benefits. But there’s a twist: you will not receive potential wage loss benefits for the first seven days out of work unless your job injury keeps you out of work for longer than 21 days.
So, your first benefits check, if approved for workers’ compensation, will not include the first seven days. Typically, workers’ comp benefits are paid weekly.
Will Workplace Accidents Rise in Raleigh?
There are many occupations with a high risk of workplace injury in Raleigh. If you take a look around, you may notice that construction is booming in the area. In North Hills, high rises and condominiums seem to pop up all over, and there are reports of plans for more development. Head down Hillsborough Street towards the Capitol, and you may be surprised by the new buildings under construction, block after block.
Since construction laborers work in very physically dangerous environments, increasing construction around the city may lead to increased workplace injuries and more workers filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Healthcare Workers Also at Risk for Workplace Injury
People in the healthcare industry are also at high risk for workplace injuries. The Raleigh Chamber of Commerce lists Duke University and Health System and WakeMed Health and Hospitals as the #1 and #6 largest employers in Wake County, with more than 50,000 employees at these two organizations. If you are in the healthcare industry, you may have a higher risk of a workplace injury.
If you’re an injured worker, consult with our experienced Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers to help you file a workers’ comp claim. We can help protect your rights and fight for all the medical benefits, Disability benefits, and lost wages compensation you may deserve.
Can I Choose My Own Doctor in My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Typically, your employer or their workers’ compensation insurance company chooses your doctor and pays for your medical bills if your claim is approved. However, according to North Carolina law, you can petition the North Carolina Industrial Commission to change doctors or approve a doctor of your choice.
For workers’ compensation claims, reimbursement for medical expenses is not guaranteed unless you obtain written permission to change physicians before the treatment is rendered. An experienced Raleigh workers’ comp attorney can help you try to provide a convincing rationale for changing doctors.
What Does Maximum Medical Improvement Mean in Regards to My Workers’ Comp Claim?
In the course of your workers’ compensation claim, you should be receiving medical care to help you heal. Many workers make full recoveries and can return to work. Some workers’ compensation claims, however, involve serious injuries that may never fully heal.
At some point, your workers’ comp doctor will eventually determine that you have reached “maximum medical improvement,” or MMI. They’re telling you that it’s as good as it’s going to get. Hopefully, that means a full recovery, but that’s unfortunately not always the case.
Will Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover You if You Cannot Return to Work?
If you’ve hit MMI and are unable to return to your old job, the workers’ compensation system can provide for disability benefits, including permanent total and permanent partial disability benefits.
The workers’ comp insurance company probably won’t like it; for-profit companies seek to keep more and pay less. Nevertheless, at this point, you will likely be approached with or offered a settlement.
It is extremely important that you seek the help of an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney before you sign any settlement. If you are in any way permanently disabled, the settlement needs to include as much as possible to cover future medical expenses and lost wages.
Why Hire Us as Your Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Raleigh, NC?
At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, our Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys understand insurance company tactics and can fight to try to get your claim approved, as well as try to maximize your workers’ compensation benefits.
We can help you seek wage benefits, financial compensation, and medical care for injuries, from a workplace accident to an occupational disease. You can put our knowledge of and experience with the North Carolina workers’ compensation system to work for you.
And we work on a contingency fee arrangement, which means we get a fixed percentage of any compensation we are able to obtain for you.2 This ensures that our interests are aligned with yours – we both want the best possible result in the shortest amount of time.
Meet Matthew Healey
Matt Healey is a Raleigh workers’ comp attorney at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Layers’ annual “Best Lawyers in America” list for Workers’ Compensation Law from 2013-2023. Matthew was also chosen as Raleigh’s Workers’ Compensation “Lawyer of the Year” in 2015, 2017, and 2022 by Best Lawyers in America.3 He and several other James Scott Farrin lawyers are NC State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation law and have been handling workers’ compensation cases for many years.
Raleigh Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Fight for Injured Workers
If you or a loved one have suffered work-related injuries, contact our Raleigh office today for a free case evaluation. We know how the North Carolina Industrial Commission operates, and we will fight hard for your rights. Our Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys understand the frustration that accompanies an on-the-job injury, and we can help you seek maximum benefits as early as possible.
For a free case evaluation, call 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online today.
3 For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, visit: www.usnews.com and www.bestlawyers.com
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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome can be achieved in the future.