Kelly worked for the school system for years when she fell coming up an icy ramp before school. She was treated and taken out of work. But she didn’t believe she would ever be able to do her job again after she broke her hip. As the weeks passed, the doctor and the workers’ comp […]
Workers' Compensation
Workers Comp 101: Injured workers who can work must return to work or look for work.
If you make a claim about a work injury and you can work, you must work. If you don’t have work to do at your current job, you must look for work. This rule is confusing for injured employees. They often ask, “Why do I have to look for work?” “What kind of work do I have […]
Will my health insurance stop when I am out on workers’ comp?
Kevin* hurt his back lifting boxes at work and couldn’t do his job as a maintenance supervisor. He was concerned about losing his income and getting good treatment for his back. But Kevin was also concerned about keeping his health insurance. He has diabetes and high blood pressure, and his yearly medical exam is coming […]
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?
You got hurt at work and need medical treatment. You are stressed and worried that you are going to be out of work. You need your wages to support yourself and your family. hen it crosses your mind, “Can my boss fire me for filing a workers’ compensation claim?” The answer is no. You can’t be fired […]
How do I get paid for the time out of work after I got hurt?
When you are hurt at work the first problem you may face is getting prompt and effective medical treatment for your injury. The second problem is getting paid for your time out of work. Payment for lost wages when you can’t work should begin 14 days after your job has notice of your injury. North Carolina law […]
Understanding what a doctor does is critical to your workers’ compensation claim
Practicing medicine is hard. In addition to figuring out how best to treat a medical condition, the doctor has to follow regulations, bill insurance companies and keep detailed records. Understanding that doctors and medical personnel are writing down everything that they see or hear that is critical to your claim. Click here to read more on this […]
Failing to get medical treatment the right way
Rule: The insurance company picks the medical provider. The injured worker can request a change in treatment. When you need a doctor, of course you choose to go to the one you know and trust. But when you have a workers’ comp claim and the insurance company is paying for your medical treatment that is not the rule. […]
What does “injury by accident” mean?
An injury by accident is an unusual event that interrupts normal work. The word “accident” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance.” That definition makes sense: you don’t have an accident unless something out of the ordinary happens. When you apply that definition to workers’ comp in North Carolina, there isn’t an “accident” […]
Missing workers’ comp checks for state workers
As WTVD 11 has reported, state employees around North Carolina have not been receiving their workers’ compensation checks. On July 1 North Carolina transferred its workers’ compensation administration away from CorVel to Sedgwick. The change did not go smoothly. Hundreds of school employees have not received weekly compensation since July 1. This delay has continued despite […]
Understanding workers’ comp: part 5
The rule explained in “Understanding workers’ comp: part 1” is clear — to have a covered injury a worker must have had an injury by accident — also has notable exceptions. But back injuries without a clear accidental cause, many specific occupational diseases, and other work-related conditions can also be covered under workers’ compensation. Each of […]