*Top 5 Questions from Clients Who Have Been Hurt at Work:

Number 1: Will I be fired?

In North Carolina, you cannot legally be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim. This is due to North Carolina’s Retaliatory Discharge Act (REDA), which protects employees from certain situations such as being fired after a workplace injury.

Suitable Employment – What is it?

A key goal of the North Carolina workers’ compensation system is to get injured workers back to work as quickly as possible after they sustain an injury. Thus, you may notice your employer, insurance adjuster, or nurse case manager pushing your doctor to send you back to work as soon as possible.

Is My Injury Covered by Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation laws can be tricky to understand. They vary by state, they’re complicated, and at first glance, they can seem overwhelming. Workers’ compensations laws are put into place to help you get the help that you need when you’ve suffered from a workplace injury, regardless of if it was your fault or your employer’s.

However, not every work injury is covered under workers’ compensation.

The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth

Everyone does it. You know, those itty bitty, teeny weeny, little innocent fibs that sometimes slip out of your mouth during your annual visit with your doctor.

“What” you say. Not me. I never! How dare you say such a thing!

Perhaps this rings a bell…. You go to your doctor for your annual physical and they begin the examination with those slightly irritating set of “standard questions.

Heat exhaustion at work? You may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation!

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.

Will Delaying Medical Care Negatively Affect My Personal Injury Case?

Imagine you’ve just been injured in a car wreck or other significant accident and emergency medical providers arrive on the scene. You feel anxious, overwhelmed, and upset. The emergency providers strongly suggest you seek medical care as soon as possible, but with adrenaline pumping through your veins and thoughts rushing through your head, going to the hospital is the very last thing you want to do.

Do You Know Who You Work For?

When you have been injured on the job and call Shankle Law Firm office for your completely free initial consultation, one of the most crucial questions you will be asked outside of the nature of your injury is, “who is your employer?” Why? Because to file a workers’ compensation claim, we must be able to identify your employer.

I Didn’t Cause This Wreck, But Now What Do I Do?

When a car accident is not your fault, it may seem straight forward that the other person’s insurance should pay for everything. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

There are numerous steps involved, but here are a few things you can do in order help protect your case:

*If there are any witnesses, be sure they stick around for the police to arrive in order to give their statement as well.

Workers’ Comp Can Give You A Headache!

Workers’ Comp can often seem like a foreign language! It has its own court system, forms and acronyms that can make it virtually impossible to navigate if you are unfamiliar with the process. The North Carolina Industrial Commission’s website can be very helpful in guiding you through the workers’ comp system if you are trying to handle your case on your own.