Every year, millions of workers across the nation experience workplace injuries that leave them feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Injuries can range from minor sprains and strains to more serious injuries such as broken bones or traumatic brain injuries.
Many workers face medical bills, time away from work, and difficulty returning to work if they cannot recover fully. As you navigate through this difficult experience, it is important to understand your rights and options for financial assistance. With the right resources, you can take the necessary steps to get back on your feet quickly.
What Is Workers Compensation?
In North Carolina, workers’ compensation is a vital resource for employees who have sustained work-related injuries or illnesses. Not only does it cover their medical costs and any income they may have lost due to missing work, but it also provides them with coverage for rehabilitation services, disability benefits, and death benefits in the event of fatalities.
Employers who employ three or more people are required by law to provide workers’ compensation insurance to their employees. This helps ensure that injured workers can receive medical treatment and financial support in the event of an accident or illness. It also protects employers from liability for medical expenses and wage losses incurred through employee injury or illness. However, sometimes workers’ compensation can be complicated, and it helps to have a skilled worker’s comp lawyer at Whitley Law Firm to speak with.
What Does Workers Compensation Cover?
If you are injured while on the job, it is important to know that medical care benefits may be available to help you recover. Here are some of the things that workers’ compensation can cover.
- Medical Treatment: Workers’ comp can cover several medical treatments related to workplace accidents or illnesses. This could include physical therapy for musculoskeletal injuries, rehabilitation services for employees who become ill at work, and other treatments necessary for the employee’s recovery.
- Lost Wages: If an employee cannot return to work due to a workplace injury or illness, workers’ comp can help provide compensation for missed wages during this period.
- Hazardous Workplace Conditions: In some cases, an employee may become ill due to hazardous conditions in the workplace, such as exposure to hazardous chemicals, allergens, or other substances. Workers’ comp can help provide medical benefits for affected employees in these cases.
- Permanent Disability: Some workers’ comp claims may result in a permanent disability requiring long-term care and support. In these cases, workers’ comp can help cover the costs of any additional treatment needed due to the disability as well as provide financial assistance while they are unable to work due to their condition.
- Death Benefits: In some cases, an employee may suffer from a fatal injury or illness in the course of their employment; in these instances, workers’ comp can also provide death benefits for surviving family members and dependents of the deceased worker.
How Does Workers’ Comp Work?
When employees are sick or hurt due to their job, they must take the necessary steps to report the incident. They must first report the workplace accident to their employer within 30 days of its occurrence. This helps ensure that the issue can be properly documented and addressed promptly.
Furthermore, they should then file a workers’ compensation claim with their state’s Industrial Commission.
When filing a claim, an employee must fill out Form 18 within two years of the date of injury or disease.
The form must include clear evidence showing that the employee’s job caused their injury or sickness and evidence of an employment relationship between the employee and employer. Additionally, they must prove that their injury or illness resulted in losses covered by the Act.
This could include medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. All medical records pertaining to the injury or illness should be included with the claim as part of the process. The form should also be signed by both parties involved before it is submitted for review.
Who Is Required To Have Workers’ Compensation?
The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act (NCWCA) requires businesses with three or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Businesses must adhere to this law to protect their employees and remain compliant with the law.
Some additional types of businesses that must have workers’ compensation include:
- Corporations
- Sole proprietorships
- Limited liability companies
- Partnerships
Staying on top of workers’ comp requirements is essential for any business operating in North Carolina, both for ethical and legal reasons. This commissioning body offers resources for employers looking to understand their obligations under NCWCA regulations and assists them with obtaining the appropriate coverage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, workers’ compensation in North Carolina is an important system for both employees and employers. It ensures that employees who are injured or become ill from their job will receive immediate medical care and wage replacement during recovery.
And employers benefit as well since they are protected from litigation related to injury or illness on the job. Both parties must understand the laws of North Carolina and make sure they are up to date with all rules and regulations surrounding workers’ compensation to protect everyone involved.
