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Last Modified on Oct 18, 2025
If you’re involved in a workplace accident, it’s important to understand your rights and options when it comes to securing compensation for your injuries. It helps to take time to understand North Carolina workers’ comp laws to develop a sound strategy. For example, you may be wondering what kind of compensation you can receive or how long can you be on workers’ comp in North Carolina.
Workers’ Comp Laws in North Carolina
North Carolina is considered a good place to live due to its low cost of living, strong job market, and endless indoor entertainment and outdoor recreational activities. It also ranked #2 in the nation for workplace safety in recent years. It doesn’t mean workers in North Carolina don’t experience workplace injuries.
The occupational fatality rate in North Carolina is 4.9 per 100,000 workers, which is slightly higher than the national average. Moreover, there were a total of 68,600 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in North Carolina in 2023. It is important to know what to do if this happens to you.
Seeking compensation through your employee benefits is a straightforward process in theory, but it’s not uncommon for employees to run into issues when they go to actually use their benefits. A local workers’ compensation attorney can help you through the process, helping you secure access to medical expense coverage and disability benefits.
Length of Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina
If you’re injured in a workplace accident, it’s important to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible. You typically have 30 days from the date of the accident to report in order to access your workers’ comp benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits typically consist of payments for medical expenses related to your injury and disability benefits to replace lost wages.
You can typically expect to keep your time-lost benefits in place until you’re able to return to work. If you suffer from a scheduled injury that results in a partial disability, you may be able to receive benefits while you recover and for some time after. Permanent injuries may result in lifetime total disability benefits.
FAQs
How Much Workers’ Compensation Am I Entitled to in North Carolina?
The amount you can receive through your workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina is ultimately going to depend on the nature and severity of your injuries. In most situations, you can expect to be paid 66 ⅔ percent of your average paycheck for a determined period of time. If your injury results in a permanent disability, you may also be entitled to long-term benefits. A workers’ compensation attorney can help ensure you receive a fair amount of compensation for your losses.
How Do I Know if My Employer Offers Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
In North Carolina, all businesses with at least three employees must offer workers’ compensation benefits. Exceptions to this requirement do exist, which can make understanding your legal rights and benefits a little more confusing.
If you’re unsure if your employer offers workers’ compensation insurance, you can reach out to them or to your company’s HR department to confirm. If you’re not comfortable doing this, you can also obtain the information about your company’s insurer through the Industrial Commission.
What Do I Do if My Employer Refuses to Help With a Workplace Injury in North Carolina?
If your employer is not being cooperative when you attempt to access your workers’ compensation benefits, there are a number of things you can do to force their hand. For starters, you can file a workers’ compensation claim with the Industrial Commission to enforce the action. This must be done within two years of the accident. You can also contact a workers’ compensation attorney to discuss recovering damages through a legal claim, depending on the details of the incident.
What Do I Do Immediately After Sustaining an Injury at Work in North Carolina?
Immediately after a workplace accident, your first move is to get yourself out of immediate danger and seek medical attention if necessary. Once you’re safe, it’s imperative to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible.
When injured in a workplace accident, it’s critical to act quickly to ensure you protect yourself as well as your future self. For this reason, it’s also wise to collect as much documentation and evidence as possible regarding the incident.
Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in North Carolina Today
In an ideal world, it would be simple to access your workers’ compensation benefits and recover from an accident in the workplace. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Whether you’re unsure about how to access your workers’ compensation benefits or you’re experiencing an issue with your employer, it’s beneficial to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer on your side to help you through your case.
The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers is a highly rated injury law firm with over 50 years of combined experience navigating complex workers’ comp cases. Over the years, our team has collectively handled hundreds of cases, including over 125 jury trials and more than 300 hearings.
We’ve worked hard to build a strong reputation, setting ourselves apart as a team that knows how to tackle North Carolina workers’ comp cases. We’re not just licensed to practice law in North Carolina; we’re North Carolina State Bar Board-Certified Specialists. This distinction lets our clients know that we’ve undergone extensive training and additional education to elevate the level of service we can deliver. To top it off, we’re proud to have 70+ 5-star reviews on Google and be:
- Highly rated by SuperLawyers®
- Rated as Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®
- Rated by Expertise.com as Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in the Charlotte area
- Recognized by Best Lawyers
Our team has had the opportunity to work on all types of North Carolina workers’ comp cases, giving us decades of diverse experience we can leverage to develop your claim strategy. If you’re ready to discuss your situation in more detail, contact the office to schedule a consultation with our team today.
