I Was Hurt In a Car Accident At Work. What Happens Next?

Auto Accidents on the Job

A common misconception is that when you are injured in an automobile accident on the job that the liability insurance company for the negligent person that caused the accident is solely responsible for your injuries.  If you are in the scope of your employment, your company’s workers’ compensation insurance company is still responsible for paying for your medical care, your time out of work at two thirds of your average weekly wage once you satisfy the waiting period, and potentially a settlement based on any permanent impairment you may have as a result of the auto accident.

Your company’s workers’ compensation insurance company has the right to be reimbursed from the liability insurance company for what they have paid out on your behalf.  But, the liability insurance company is no less responsible because you were in the accident on the job.  It can be quite intimidating and confusing to try and deal with both of these insurance companies when this situation arises, as they both are obviously concerned with what is in their best interest, and not yours!

If you have any questions about what to do after an auto accident, whether it happens on the job or not, contact Tippens & Zurosky toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.  We will deal with the insurance companies for the person that hit you, workers’ compensation if it applies, and work to get both matters satisfactorily concluded for you!

Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  Let us help you deal with the unexpected, and get your life back on track.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.   

How long do you have to file a workers comp claim in North Carolina?

The Early Bird Files a Claim

One of the most common scenarios we hear about is when a person gets injured on the job, but because of a fear of losing their job, the “encouragement” of their manager or supervisor not to file a claim, or simply not knowing how to file a claim, they have waited months after the accident to file a claim with the workers’ compensation insurance company for their employer.  It is absolutely crucial that you report your accident to your supervisor, or human resources immediately, and get a written accident report done to memorialize what happened.  Often, a delay causes the workers’ compensation insurance company to deny a claim because there is no documentation that the accident happened, and the injured workers’ company becomes “unsure” if anything ever happened.

A great example of this is when someone lifts boxes as part of their job, but on one particular day lifts a box and feels pain.  They may be used to having nagging aches and pains from doing this kind of work and thus did not report it.  Or, if they did actually report the injury, a supervisor will just ask them to work through it, or try to minimize what happened and not document the injury.   So, weeks or even months later, the injured employee, who has been trying to work through it, but now has a serious back injury that has gotten worse and worse, tries to report the claim.  And, to the injured employee’s great surprise, the claim is denied because he or she “never told anybody,” or because of the delay can’t honestly remember when they got hurt, or exactly how it happened.

So, if you have been hurt on the job report it immediately, and then pick up the phone and call Tippens & Zurosky, so we can be your voice, answer all of your questions, and file your claim!  Tippens & Zurosky has knowledgeable, experienced attorneys who can fight for your rights during this often long and difficult workers' compensation process.  Call us toll-free at 877-372-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation.  Let us help you!