Recent Posts in Workers' Compensation Category

News sources are reporting that Nadya Suleman has agreed to settle a worker's compensation lawsuit.  Suleman, who is well-known for giving birth to octuplets and dubbed "Octomom", agreed to settle an injury claim she filed against a hospital where she used to be employed.

As part of the settlement, Suleman will receive $40,000 from the Metropolitan State Hospital, which is located in Norwalk.  In 1999, Suleman was working at the medical facility as a psychiatric technician.  While employed, she suffered a back injury during a disturbance at the hospital.  She came back to work briefly, but then left and collected disability from 2000 to 2008.  During that time span, she received $170,000 in disability payments.

After her attorney's fees and permanent disability payments are deducted from the settlement, Suleman will collect $23,120. 

Need assistance with a worker's compensation matter?  If so, contact the Lanier Law Firm and set up a time to speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer.

Pain, discomfort, and physical limitations are a part of any injury.  When a person suffers an injury while on the job, they have the right to seek both medical and financial benefits through the workers’ compensation system. These benefits are used to pay for the victim’s monthly expenses while they are unable to work, as well as for their medical care, physical therapy, and occupational therapy for their injuries.

While physical injuries are often covered under workers’ compensation benefits, it is less often that people seek benefits to help pay for treatment for the mental and emotional consequences of an injury.  It’s not uncommon for injury victims to experience depression, high levels of stress, anxiety, and mental anguish, especially when an injury limit’s a person’s ability to live life to the fullest.  Furthermore, depending on the extent of the injury, a person may never be able to return to work again.  Losing one’s ability to work is source of stress, anxiety, and depression for many people.  Not only is there concern over how money will be made, but not being able to provide for oneself or one’s family can undermine a person’s sense of self-worth.

When a person suffers an injury while on the job or as a result of their job duties, he or she has the right to apply for medical and financial benefits through the North Carolina workers’ compensation system.  Unlike other types of injury claims, the victim does not need to establish negligence in order to recover these benefits.  All they need to do is prove they sustained their injuries as a result of their job. 

Because a worker isn’t required to establish negligence to recover workers’ compensation benefits, and because all employers (for the most part) are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, an injured worker cannot sue their employer for additional damages in a separate lawsuit.  Even if your employer was at fault and found liable for your injuries, you cannot sue him or her in a personal injury lawsuit.

You can however, file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party.  For example, if you work on a construction site and were injured using a defective tool, you could sue the designer, manufacturer, and/or distributor of that tool for damages in a product liability lawsuit.   Another example, say you drive a truck for a living and were injured in an accident while at work.  Although you cannot sue your employer, you can sue the negligent driver responsible for causing the accident.

Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Comp Attorney Today!

If you have suffered an injury in a workplace accident, you should speak with an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney at Lanier Law Group as soon as possible.  Not only can we help you file a workers’ compensation claim, but we can also help you pursue a lawsuit against a negligent third party.  In doing so you can increase the amount of compensation you are ultimately are able to recover.

Do you need to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit? Contact a knowledgeable and dedicated North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer at Lanier Law Group today!