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!