At Henson Fuerst, our North Carolina Workers’ Compensation attorneys are asked a lot of great questions by working people that suffered an injury while on the job. One question that we are often asked is: “I was hurt on the job, but I’m not sure if it’s serious. Should I report my injury right away, or wait?”
The answer is that you should absolutely report a workplace injury as soon as possible.
North Carolina Worker’s Compensation Law has changed in recent years to make this requirement much more stringent than it used to be. If your injury turns out to be serious, and you have failed to report it in a timely fashion, you may be denied benefits simply based on your failure to timely report it.
A supervisor or manager should be notified immediately. You should also file a Form 18 with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. This form is located on the Industrial Commission’s website and is available at no cost to you.
Simply print out the form and complete it. It can be hand written. The form should then be mailed to the address located on the bottom of the form for filing. Keeping a copy for your own records is also a good idea.
Taking these steps will ensure that you have met the requirements of notifying your employer.
If you are injured in any type of workplace accident and have questions about filing a claim to Workers’ Compensation benefits, call Henson Fuerst right away at 919-781-1107. Whether you have been unfairly denied Workers’ Compensation benefits or simply have questions about the process, our experienced North Carolina Workers’ Compensation attorneys will speak with you for free and answer any questions you have.
At Henson Fuerst, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front. We will fight hard to protect your rights, and you owe us nothing until we recover for you.
Call Henson Fuerst, Because Your Case Matters
