Tippens & Zurosky, L.L.P. was started in 1998 by two attorneys who wanted to defend and protect those individuals seeking just and fair compensation from auto accident cases, workers’ compensation cases and wrongful death cases. We champion the cause of the working-class informing them of their rights, and evening the playing field against those who may try to take an unfair advantage.
When you are injured on the job in North Carolina or South Carolina, Workers’ Compensation is the means by which you are compensated for your lost time from work, your injuries, and get medical treatment.
However, the laws of workers’ compensation are incredibly complex and vary from North Carolina to South Carolina. The words you use to report your injury to your employer, or put down in an accident report can sometimes be the reason why your claim is accepted, or denied. Sometimes your manager or supervisor’s salary or bonuses is tied in to the amount of time lost in on the job accidents that happen on their watch. Unfortunately, some managers or supervisors harm employees’ workers’ compensation claims by having the employees fill out accident reports in ways that lead to the employee’s case being denied.
Therefore, it is crucial you speak with an attorney as soon as possible, ideally before you speak with the insurance company, or fill out an accident report. Simply put, words matter, and it is best to let Tippens and Zurosky be your voice in any North Carolina or South Carolina workers’ compensation matter. Call us toll-free at 877-372-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation. Let us help you!
Most folks growing up had the experience where they heard from their parents, teachers, pastors, or coaches that honesty is the best policy. That same time tested maxim applies to workers’ compensation claims as well.
Of course, if you are injured on the job you need to immediately report the injury and make sure your supervisor or manager does a written report of the accident or injury. It is critical you get a copy of this report for your records, and your attorney. Ask your employer to send you to the company physician immediately.
But sometimes when a worker gets hurt on the job, other factors come into play the moment the worker tries to report the injury to their supervisor. Numerous times we have received calls from injured workers who when hurt on the job were told by their employers that if they filed the claim they would be summarily terminated. In that scenario, the injured worker would keep working as best they could with their injury, and either never get medical care, or file health insurance and simply not inform their doctor that they were hurt in the job. Inevitably, the call we get is when the person gets terminated anyway, and conveniently for their employer there is no documentation at work, or in the medical records that the injury occurred on the job.
Another situation an injured worker may find themselves in when they get hurt on the job is when their employer tells them they will continue to pay their full wages, and all of their medical expenses, but to go to the hospital and tell the doctor that they were hurt at home, or somewhere else other than the job. The employer then denies the accident ever happened, and when the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company gets the hospital records predictably they deny the claim because the medical records do not document that an injury happened at work. The injured worker then has a huge and often insurmountable uphill climb to prove their accident happened on the job.
So, if you are hurt on the job, honesty is the best policy. Make sure your claim is reported and documented even if your employer is threatening your job status. Tell your doctors that the accident happened on the job, and don’t delay in getting medical treatment. Go to the doctors as soon as possible! Because you simply cannot afford to assume that your employer will do the “right thing.” Your employer will take care of his/her own interests, and you need to take care of your interests. 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!
Workers’ Compensation and Your Rights In North and South Carolina
The last thing most folks think about when they go to work on any given day is that they will get hurt on that job. But, what should you do, if you do get hurt on the job?
There are many different types of workers' compensation claims. An injury by accident is generally a slip, trip, fall, or accident caused by a co-worker that injures you in some way. For example, slipping on a wet or greasy floor and breaking your ankle is an injury by accident. A specific traumatic incident is an injury to your back, or neck caused typically by lifting something such as a heavy box. An occupational disease which includes things like tendinitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome, is caused by repetitive motion, which means doing the same task over and over again over time. All of these things are workers' compensation claims.
If you are injured on the job, immediately report the injury and make sure your supervisor or manager does a written report of the accident or injury. It is critical you get a copy of this report for your records, and your attorney. Ask your employer to send you to the company physician immediately.
Your company, or their workers' compensation insurance company has to pay for your medical care 100 percent, but they get to choose what physician you see. You may be entitled to receive compensation for being out of work if the doctor says you cannot work, or puts work restrictions on you that the company cannot meet. If this is the case you are entitled to receive two thirds of your average weekly wage. The final component of workers' compensation is receiving an award for a disability rating to your injured body part. For example after a surgery to a broken arm, your doctor may say you have an impairment rating which may entitle you to receive a settlement award from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company.
Workers' compensation can be confusing, and companies often are more concerned with the bottom line, and not their injured workers. 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!
