Get The Workers' Compensation Benefits You Need

Workers' compensation benefits offers three major types of benefits. These include weekly checks for missed work, payment for related medical expenses, and payment for permanent injuries.

Generally speaking, anyone that is an employee, suffers a work related injury resulting from an accident or occupational disease, and meets North Carolina's deadlines for reporting an injury may qualify for workers’ comp benefits. Independent contractors and volunteers are not usually entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

You cannot be fired solely because you have filed for workers' compensation but you can be fired while you have a pending workers' compensation claim. In order to be fired, your employer must demonstrate that there was another reason for doing so that had nothing to do with your open claim.

It depends on the severity of your injury. If you have a minor injury that doesn’t require surgery and your doctor expects you to make a full recovery and return to work, then you probably don’t need an attorney. However, if you have a more severe injury that requires surgery and your ability to return to your previous employment is in doubt, then it’s advisable to talk with an attorney as soon as possible.

If you’re eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, you may receive up to 66.7 percent of your average weekly wage. However, this amount cannot exceed $862 per week. The maximum weekly benefit is adjusted every year to match cost of living increases.