Charlotte First Responder Injury Attorney
First responders are crucial members of society. In Charlotte, these individuals selflessly work one of the most challenging jobs to get injured victims to the various Atrium Health emergency rooms in the area, and their work can often determine life and death. These individuals also face the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses, and if you sustain any such harm, you must talk to a Charlotte first responder injury lawyer at the first possible opportunity.
Representing Injured First Responders in Charlotte, NC
The lawyers at The Sumwalt Group have more than 50 combined years of experience representing injured workers in Charlotte and throughout the surrounding areas of North Carolina in their workers’ compensation cases. Our team believes in client-focused legal counsel, and we do everything we can to maximize each client’s recovery. You should hire a first responder injury lawyer to help you file your workers’ compensation claim.
Our team will carefully review the details of how your injury or illness occurred and explain the legal options available to you. Navigating the workers’ compensation claim process will be easier with an attorney’s help, and you are also more likely to maximize your benefits with the right attorney on your side. Additionally, our team can assist you with filing a third-party personal injury case if you have the grounds to do so.
Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Charlotte
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded about 68,600 private sector workplace injuries in North Carolina in 2023, and more than 41,000 of these injuries qualified as severe enough to result in missed days of work, require new job training, or require medical restrictions for injured workers. It’s possible for first responders to sustain all types of injuries while performing their job duties in Charlotte:
- First responders are sometimes injured in vehicle accidents. If drivers are negligent around ambulances and other emergency vehicles, first responders could sustain serious injuries in vehicle collisions.
- It’s possible for first responders to sustain injuries from the victims they intend to save. Unexpected assaults are unfortunately common, sometimes leading to shoulder injury, spinal cord injury, or other serious harm.
- It’s possible for a first responder to be exposed to infectious diseases. Any illness acquired from work can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
- First responders often witness gruesome and traumatic scenes that take a heavy psychological toll over time. In North Carolina, it is possible to claim workers’ compensation benefits for work-related mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These are just a few examples of work-related illnesses and injuries that a first responder might acquire. Some cases even involve work injuries requiring surgery or lead to tragic claims for death benefits. If you have been hurt or fallen ill because of work, you should speak with a Charlotte first responder injury lawyer right away to discuss your legal options.
Almost every private employer in North Carolina is required to have workers’ compensation insurance, and this insurance covers most regular employees throughout the state. As soon as any workplace injury happens, or as soon as you are diagnosed with a work-related illness, you should notify your employer immediately so you can start the workers’ compensation claim process.
It’s possible to encounter issues with your employer and/or their insurance carrier, so you should hire a first responder injury lawyer who can help you file your workers’ compensation claim. They will make sure these parties handle their responsibilities correctly and do everything they can to maximize your benefits. If a third party is responsible for causing your injury, you could also have grounds to file a third-party personal injury claim against them.
The team at The Sumwalt Group can help you make sense of your legal options after an injury at work in Charlotte. You have limited time to pursue benefits, so it’s vital that you hire a first responder injury lawyer at the first possible opportunity. Reach out to our team today to learn how we can assist you with your case.
Serving Clients Throughout
North Carolina
FAQs
You typically do not need to prove fault for a workers’ compensation claim in Charlotte. Most workers’ compensation cases in North Carolina are processed on a no-fault basis. However, if you intend to file a third-party personal injury case against whoever caused the injury, you will need to prove fault in order to hold them accountable for the damages they caused.
The workers’ compensation benefits you can receive should include complete coverage of all medical expenses related to your injury, as well as disability benefits for the time you cannot work while you recover. Disability benefits are paid based on your remaining functional capacity to work following the injury. You could also receive vocational rehabilitation benefits to help pay for the cost of new job training if you cannot return to your previous position.
You can claim pain and suffering compensation for a first responder injury with a third-party personal injury case, but workers’ compensation insurance won’t cover pain and suffering in North Carolina. If a specific party outside of your work caused the injury, such as a negligent driver or an injured person you tried to help, you could file a third-party personal injury suit against them to secure compensation for damages that workers’ compensation won’t cover.
You should hire a first responder injury lawyer to have a better chance of succeeding with your recovery efforts. Even if the workers’ compensation claim process seems simple enough, the reality is you could encounter a wide range of unexpected complications, and you should have legal counsel you trust on your side to have the greatest chance of maximizing your benefits.
The team at The Sumwalt Group is ready to provide the compassionate and results-driven legal representation you need on your side in the aftermath of an injury you suffered while working as a first responder. We are confident we possess the skills and resources needed to navigate your case successfully, so contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a Charlotte first responder injury lawyer.