North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Benefits

When workers are injured while carrying out the duties of their jobs, they are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from the employer. Almost all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover these costs. These insurance policies can cover a variety of costs depending on the situation. A North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney can help you determine which of the following benefits may apply to your case.

Medical Costs

Your workers’ compensation benefits should cover all medical costs related to the injury you sustained. Examples of these costs include: 

• Doctor visits
• Diagnostic testing
• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Surgery
• Counseling
• Medical equipment, such as a brace 

This benefit should cover the treatment of secondary injuries and illnesses as well. For example, if your disability leads you to develop depression, the medical benefit should cover counseling and/or medications for your depression. 

Employers and their insurance companies choose doctors for injured workers to see. Then, workers may only get benefits for treatments that the doctor approves. If you believe your assigned provider is not suitable, you can file a petition to change doctors. 

All injured workers should keep receipts and all other documentation regarding medical treatment. This can help ensure that their costs are covered.

Lost Wages

Many workplace injuries keep employees from returning to work in full capacity. Some may end up on light duty, while others have to stay home to recover. In severe cases, workers lose the ability to work altogether. All of this time away from work costs money in lost wages. Workers’ compensation benefits are supposed to cover some of that burden. 

Some state employees, like teachers and law enforcement officers, can get 100 percent of their salaries covered by workers’ compensation benefits for up to two years. However, private-sector employees and state employees who remain injured after two years only recoup 2/3rds of their lost wages through workers’ compensation. 

To calculate your estimated workers’ compensation benefits for lost wages: 

• Add up all the money you made from the job over the 52 weeks prior to the injury
• Divide that total by 52 to get your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
• Multiply your AWW by 0.6667 to get approximately 2/3rds of your AWW 

This final number is what you can expect to receive weekly on workers’ compensation. When you receive the money depends on many factors. Some people get weekly checks while others receive lump sums.

Miscellaneous Related Costs

While medical costs and lost wages are the most significant costs that injured workers incur, other costs can come up as well. For example, traveling to receive appropriate healthcare can add up. Furthermore, workers’ compensation may cover vocational rehabilitation for people who will not be able to return to their previous jobs but may work in other positions if they gain the right skills. 

If a person passes away as a result of injuries at work, workers’ compensation can help the person’s loved ones with funeral costs and death benefits. The death benefits work similarly to lost wage benefits and can last up to 500 weeks.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you want to ensure that you obtain the full value of your workers’ compensation claim, you need a specialized North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney on your side. Call King Law Firm today at (800) 635-1683 or contact us now to get started.

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1035 Director Ct,
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Greenville, NC 27834
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3186 Zebulon, Dr.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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4200 Morganton Road
Suite 200-6
Fayetteville, NC 28314
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