Charlotte Mechanic Injury Attorney
Mechanics have a difficult job that entails a significant risk of injury. There are many automotive repair centers in the Charlotte area, and many local factories, warehouses, and other commercial operations managed by companies like Nucor and Honeywell rely on mechanics to fix forklifts and other specialized vehicles. If you were hurt on the job while performing your duties as a mechanic, it’s important to consult a Charlotte mechanic injury lawyer right away.
Representing Injured Mechanics in Charlotte, NC
The team at The Sumwalt Group has decades of proven experience resolving all sorts of workplace injury cases in Charlotte and the surrounding communities of North Carolina. We help each client understand their rights so they can approach the workers’ compensation claim process with confidence. We can also provide more comprehensive legal support when an injured worker has grounds to file a third-party personal injury case. This often applies to cases involving a factory worker injury, plant accident & explosion, or company car work injury connected to mechanical duties.
The first steps you take following any workplace injury are crucial. You should hire a mechanic injury lawyer you trust to help you navigate the workers’ compensation claim process and obtain a fair determination of benefits from your employer’s insurance carrier. It’s important that you consult an attorney and start working on your case right away, especially if your situation involves denied workers’ compensation benefits, a severe spinal cord injury, or work injuries requiring surgery.
Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Mechanic Injury
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2023, there were about 68,600 private sector workplace injuries throughout North Carolina, and more than 41,000 of these injuries were considered severe. Almost all private employers in the state are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance, and most regular employees are covered if they are hurt while working.
Mechanics face various risks of injury from the tools and equipment they are required to use at work. It’s also possible for lifted vehicles to fall, for safety equipment to fail, or for toxic exposure to occur because of various chemicals used in most automotive repair centers. It’s also possible for a mechanic to suffer from a repetitive stress injury that gradually worsens over time, or more immediate trauma such as a knee injury or shoulder injury from physically demanding tasks.
After any workplace injury in Charlotte, the injured employee should report the injury to their supervisor right away and seek medical treatment. When a workplace injury is severe enough to cause the victim to miss work, they can file a workers’ compensation claim and seek medical expense coverage and disability benefits through their employer’s insurance policy. In some cases, families may also need to pursue death benefits when a mechanic’s accident proves fatal.
While most employers facilitate these claims and most insurance companies process them in good faith, there is always a chance for unexpected disputes to arise. When you hire a mechanic injury lawyer to represent you, you will be prepared to confront any such issues that you encounter, and your attorney can also determine whether you have the grounds to file a third-party personal injury case against whoever caused the injury.
Ultimately, your situation may be more complex than it appears at first, and you may also have more recovery options available to you than you realize. Hiring a Charlotte mechanic injury lawyer offers the greatest chance of reaching an excellent conclusion to your case. The team at The Sumwalt Group is confident we can help you maximize your recovery, so reach out to our firm at the first possible opportunity to learn how we can help.
Serving Clients Throughout
North Carolina
FAQs
Liability for a mechanic work injury in Charlotte does not matter for the purposes of filing a workers’ compensation claim. All workers’ compensation cases in North Carolina are processed on a no-fault basis. However, if a specific party is directly responsible for causing your injury at work, you could have grounds to file a third-party personal injury case against them that would allow you to recover damages that workers’ compensation insurance won’t cover.
The amount you can receive in workers’ compensation benefits depends on the seriousness of your injury. You have the right to seek full compensation for the medical expenses related to your injury, and you are able to receive disability benefits during the time you cannot work while you recover. The amount you receive in disability benefits will depend on whether you retain any functional capacity to work following initial recovery.
Yes, you could claim benefits if you caused your own work injury in Charlotte as long as you caused the injury while working in good faith. If you were at work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could be disqualified from benefits. Your liability may not matter for the purposes of workers’ compensation, but you would be unable to pursue compensation with a third-party personal injury case due to North Carolina’s contributory negligence law.
No, workers’ compensation insurance does not pay for pain and suffering. A successful workers’ compensation claim can cover all medical expenses related to your injury and provide disability benefits while you cannot work. However, if you have the grounds to file a third-party personal injury case, you could seek compensation for your pain and suffering from the defendant who caused the injury.
You should hire a mechanic injury lawyer to have a better chance of success in resolving your case. Even if your employer facilitates your workers’ compensation claim and their insurance company handles it appropriately, it will still be important to retain legal representation you trust to resolve any unexpected complications and to ensure you receive a fair determination of benefits.
The team at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers can provide compassionate legal counsel when you need it most after a work injury in Charlotte. Mechanics can sustain all types of serious injuries on the job, and navigating the workers’ compensation claim process will be easier with an attorney representing you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Charlotte mechanic injury lawyer and learn how we can assist with your case.