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What to Do if You Are Injured At Work
Under North Carolina workers' compensation law, any employer with more than three employees is required to provide medical coverage to workers injured in on-the-job accidents.
November 18, 2011 /Law and Legal PR News/ -- What to Do if You Are Injured At Work
If you've been injured at work, your mind may be swimming with questions: Who do I talk to? How will I pay for my medical care? Who will support my family if I can't work? Can I get fired for reporting the injury?
Under North Carolina workers' compensation law, any employer with more than three employees is required to provide medical coverage to workers injured in on-the-job accidents. Employees whose injuries require more than 21 days off of work will also be entitled to wage-replacement benefits. Employers are prohibited from punishing employees for seeking workers' compensation.
You Need to Follow the Right Steps
If you're injured at work, you need to make sure your claim is properly documented. First, you should report your injury to your employer and then go see a doctor. Many employers have an on-site care provider for workers' compensation injuries. If yours doesn't, you should follow your employer's recommendation on where to go.
Make sure you tell the doctor the name of your employer, and that you are seeking treatment for a work-related injury. This will help the office bill your treatment as a worker's compensation claim.
Next, you need to inform the appropriate supervisor or manager at your company that you have suffered a work-related injury. Do this as soon as possible. If your injury prevents you from reporting your injury, have a friend, family member or medical provider report the injury for you.
Within 30 days of your injury, you need to provide your employer with written notice. You are only required to include the date of the accident and a brief description of your injury. It's best to keep this simple -- anything you write can be used against you later.
You also need to make a formal claim to the State of North Carolina. You do this by filling out a document called "Form 18" and submitting it to the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
Most importantly, make sure you follow all of your physician's instructions for medical treatment. If you don't, your employer may claim that you did not make a good effort to recover, and may use this as grounds to take away your benefits.
A Good Lawyer Can Make a Big Difference
If you are having any trouble receiving your workers' compensation benefits, or if you believe your employer is acting unreasonably, you should contact an experienced workers' compensation attorney right away. Having an advocate on your side can make a big difference when dealing with stubborn employers or insurance companies. You don't have to worry about not being able to afford a lawyer -- many workers' compensation attorneys don't charge an hourly fee but instead recover attorney's fees only if you win your case.
Article provided by Crosswhite, Crosswhite, Ashley, Johnson & Allen, PLLC
Visit us at www.crosswhitelaw.com
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