Common Ways Employees Get Hurt

Most companies have safety protocols in place to help reduce the number of workplace accidents. Even so, most on-the-job injuries are caused by accidents. At David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, our work injury attorneys represent individuals in Wilmington and throughout North Carolina who have suffered serious injuries due to workplace accidents, repetitive motions, or harmful exposure.

Continue reading to learn more about common work injuries or call us at 910-208-0535 for a free consultation with one of our Wilmington work injury lawyers today.

Types of Work Injury Cases We Handle

We represent clients with almost any type of work-related injury, including:

• Back injuries
• Broken bones
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Infections
• Dismemberment
• Bulging or herniated disks
• Chemical exposure

Please note that this is not a complete list. If you were injured or fell ill due to any type of workplace accident, environment, or task, we can help.

What to Do If You Are Injured at Work

After a workplace accident or work-related injury/illness, there are several important steps you must take to protect your health, your safety, and your rights:

• Seek Medical Attention: The first and most important thing to do after a work-related injury or
  illness is to seek appropriate medical attention. Tell your doctor about your symptoms and let them know how the injury/illness occurred. Follow all of your doctor’s recommendations, including taking any prescribed medications and attending follow-up and/or rehabilitation therapy appointments.
• Notify Your Employer: Next, you should notify your employer about the injury/illness as soon
  as possible. If you wish to file a workers’ compensation claim, you must notify your employer in writing about your injury/illness within 30 days to be eligible. The 30 days typically begin on the date of the injury, but it may not begin until the date on which you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) your injury/illness.
• Reach Out to a Work Injury Lawyer: If you are unsure whether you are covered by workers’ compensation or if you believe you may have a third-party work injury claim, it’s important that you reach out to an experienced attorney. At David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, our legal team can help you understand your legal options and build a case tailored to your needs, concerns,
  and goals.

We offer contingency fees, meaning you do not pay anything out of pocket when you work with our firm. Instead, we collect attorneys’ fees via a portion of your total recovery. In other words, if we don’t secure compensation on your behalf, you do not owe us a dime.

What Work Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

In North Carolina, workers’ compensation does not cover all injuries.

To be covered by workers’ compensation, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You are classified as an employee (whether part- or full-time)
• Your employer has workers’ compensation insurance or is required to carry it
• Your injuries arose from a workplace/on-the-job accident
• The accident arose from your employment

For your injuries to be covered, they will need to have resulted from an accident that arose from your employment. The only exception to this is back injuries, which may still be covered under workers’ compensation if they arose from a specific traumatic event.

When injuries meet the eligibility requirements outlined above, most are covered by workers’ compensation. This includes but is not limited to:

• Amputation
• Back injuries
• Brain injuries
• Broken bones/fractures
• Burns
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ear and eye injuries
• Head injuries
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Neck injuries
• Nerve damage and related injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Serious cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
• Shoulder and joint injuries
• Slip, trip, and fall accidents
• Soft tissue damage
• Spine injuries
• Tendonitis
• Torn rotator cuffs

Workers’ compensation also covers a range of work-related illnesses and conditions, including chemical exposure, hearing loss, asbestosis, mesothelioma, poisoning, inflammation, and more.

What If a Back Injury Wasn’t Caused by an Accident?

We use our backs for all physical activities, so it’s probably not surprising that back injuries are some of the most common injuries. Many people who work in construction or other manual labor jobs suffer from back pain, and it’s common for that pain to radiate to the victim’s extremities.

Unlike most workers’ compensation claims, an injured worker may receive compensation for a back injury even if the injury wasn’t caused by an accident. For example, if an individual’s job was to lift 10-pound boxes every day, and the person hurt his or her back, they may have grounds for a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. The injured person would not need to prove that the back pain was caused by an accident to be eligible for workers’ compensation.

Filing a Third-Party Work Injury Claim

In some cases, injured individuals may file third-party work injury claims after an on-the-job accident or injury. This may offer an additional avenue of compensation for the severely injured. In other cases, workers’ compensation may not apply, and the injured individual will only be able to seek financial compensation for their damages by filing a third-party work injury claim.

You may have grounds for a third-party work injury claim if someone other than your employer is liable for your injuries and/or if you are not covered by workers’ compensation. For example, if you were injured after using defective equipment on the job, you could have grounds for a claim against the manufacturer of the defective equipment. If you were hit by a drunk driver while operating a commercial vehicle, you may be able to seek additional compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the drunk driver.

Our Wilmington work injury lawyers leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of recovering the maximum compensation their clients are owed. When you trust your case to our firm, we will work tirelessly for you. We are ready to put over 136 years of combined experience and the knowledge we have gained from handling well over 65,000 cases on your side.

Need Help with Your Work Injury Claim? Contact Us Today

If you were injured in a workplace accident, it’s important to contact someone who can aggressively pursue the representation you need. At David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, that’s exactly what you’ll find. Learn more about the representation we offer by scheduling your free initial consultation with our team today.

We can be reached online or by calling 910-208-0535. Hablamos español.