The summer months bring with them clear blue skies, fun family barbeques, and refreshing swims in the pool. However, the North Carolina heat and humidity follow close behind, bringing the possibility of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and - more seriously - heat stroke.
If you work a job that requires you to labor outside, your employer cannot simply offer you paid leave every time that the temperature breaks 90 degrees. Working long shifts in the sun can lead to an array of heat related illnesses, causing you to potentially get hurt on the job. If this ends up being the case, you may blame yourself for not watching out for the signs of heat related illness more vigilantly, leading you to believe that because you are at fault, you are not eligible for workers’ compensation.
However, in North Carolina, it does not generally matter in workers’ compensation cases if the worker is partially at fault for their workplace injury. There are of course, exceptions to this general rule. The law is put forth to make sure that the industry is responsible for the damages that their workers could experience while on the job. These injuries are not limited to classic slip-and-fall cases and the like; heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke can be very damaging and can lead to a lengthy and expensive hospital visit, that you may be eligible to get covered by your employer.
At Shankle Law, we advocate for what is best for you, no matter what your injury is. Call us today at 704-370-1212 for more information, and to speak to Maggie Shankle, a N.C. Board Certified Workers’ Compensation attorney, for your free initial compensation.
References:
www.shanklelaw.com