Most Common Workers’ Compensation Claims in North Carolina: Are You Entitled to Benefits?

Whether you work at an office, healthcare clinic, or construction site in North Carolina, you face a risk of workplace injury and illness. Workers sustain serious injuries daily just by doing their jobs – whether it’s moving patients from beds to wheelchairs or working with machinery. It’s important to know your rights and not quickly dismiss an injury or illness as “one of the risks of the job.”

Most employers in North Carolina have workers’ compensation insurance to compensate injured workers. Read on to learn more about the most common workers’ compensation claims for healthcare workers and construction workers. And what’s a third party claim?

For answers and help with your case, contact us online or call us right now at 1-866-900-7078.

What Occupations Have the Highest Rate of Injuries and Illnesses?

In 2022, the transportation and healthcare industries topped the list:

Some of the largest employers in North Carolina include companies in the healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation industries. Unfortunately, transportation and construction jobs experience the highest number of fatalities, accounting for 47% of workplace deaths in 2022.

What Are Common Healthcare Worker Injury Claims?

The very people who have chosen a profession dedicated to healing others – nurses, physical and occupational therapists, home healthcare aides, and others – are exposed to potential health hazards and on-the-job injuries on a daily basis.

Common healthcare industry injury claims include:

• Needle-stick injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Injuries caused by violent patients (intentional and unintentional)
• Herniated discs and other back injuries
• Latex allergies
• Bacterial infections and viral illnesses
• Slip and fall injuries
• Carpal tunnel or injuries due to repetitive motion
• Stress

Unfortunately, some insurance companies may deny benefits to healthcare workers who have been seriously injured, arguing that pre-existing conditions are to blame or that the injuries were not job-related.

Our North Carolina workers’ comp attorneys are familiar with insurance company tactics and have access to experts if needed who can testify about the impact of an injury on your life. Call 1-866-900-7078 or fill out our free case evaluation form today to see how we can help you with your case.

Does Workers’ Comp Cover COVID-19 in North Carolina?

If your job places you at a greater risk for contracting COVID-19 than the general public, you may have a workers’ comp claim. Every case is different, so get a free evaluation from an experienced attorney.

What Are Common Construction Worker Injury Claims?

Whether working from heights or handling heavy equipment, construction workers can sustain serious injuries and see their quality of life destroyed in an instant.

Common construction worker injury claims include:

• Blindness and vision impairment
• Broken bones from falls
• Burns and scarring from explosions and fires
• Hearing loss
• Heat stroke
• Herniated discs and other back injuries
• Knee injuries
• Lacerations
• Neurological damage from electrocution
• Shoulder injuries

Injury victims and their families should speak with an experienced workers’ comp attorney when trying to determine:

• what benefits you may be eligible for
• if you are getting all the benefits you may be owed
• what to do if your claim was denied

We take an aggressive stand on behalf of our clients and are ready to fight for the full compensation and benefits you may deserve. Call 1-866-900-7078 today for your free case evaluation.

Does OSHA Affect My Workers’ Comp Benefits?

No. OSHA and workers’ compensation are two different programs. OSHA establishes regulations that deal with specific safety precautions that should be followed to prevent workers from getting hurt on the job. You do not receive any benefits from OSHA.

Workers’ comp allows you to seek compensation after you have sustained a work-related injury or illness.

What Is a Third-Party Claim?

In North Carolina, employees do not have to prove that their employer was at fault to get benefits, but they also cannot file a separate civil lawsuit against their employer or recover damages for pain and suffering.

However, if a company or person who is not your employer causes your injuries while you are working, you may be able to file a civil claim against them. For example, if a cleaning company hired to keep your office clean left a wet floor and no warning sign. This is called a third-party claim and would allow you to seek damages for pain and suffering.

More Examples of Third-Party Claims

The following are examples of workers’ compensation cases that could lead to third-party claims:

• An injury due to the operation of a defective machine owned by a company other than your employer
• An injury at a construction site which stemmed from a negligent contractor who was working under a different employer
• An injury while working at unsafe premises owned by someone other than your employer
• An injury from a work-related vehicular accident in which the at-fault driver is not associated with the company

If your workplace injury was caused by a third party, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Award-Winning, Battle-Tested Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

You are not alone if you have been injured at your job, whether you’re in construction (drywall, roofing, carpentry, machine operation, flaggers, etc.), a warehouse worker, a driver (delivery, truck driving, etc.), or anybody else hurt or made sick on the job.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured at work or fallen ill because of your job, you should contact our experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers. We can leverage our inside knowledge and deep experience to fight for justice on your behalf.

Multiple members of our team are former defense attorneys and paralegals for insurance companies. That means we’ve worked for the “other side,” and now our mission is to draw on that inside knowledge to help prepare you for what you’re up against.

And several of our attorneys are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in workers’ compensation law. This is a rare specialization: Less than 1% of all attorneys licensed to practice in NC can call themselves State Bar Board Certified Specialists in workers’ comp!⁵

Call 1-866-900-7078 or fill out our free case evaluation form today. It’s time to tell them you mean business.

⁵Figures provided by NC State Bar as of 1/24.

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