On Behalf of The Sumwalt Group Workers' Comp and Trial Lawyers
Apr 16, 2025
Workers injured during employment in North Carolina often question the financial value of their workers’ compensation settlements. The North Carolina workers’ compensation settlement chart is a frequently used reference tool that serves as a structured guide listed in state legislation determining payment duration for different injuries, despite not being a literal chart.
Workers who have been injured at major employers such as manufacturing plants and hospitals in Charlotte, Raleigh, and High Point can use the NC settlement chart to understand their financial entitlements more clearly. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can provide valuable guidance during this process, especially when jobs demand intense physical effort that leads to prolonged impairments. Gaining knowledge about injury classification and compensation calculation assists you in confidently filing and managing your workers’ compensation claim.
What Is the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart?
The term settlement chart in North Carolina generally denotes the scheduled injuries portion of state workers’ compensation legislation as specified in NC. Gen. Stat. § 97-31. The statute specifies the duration in weeks that an injured worker may receive payment for either complete or total loss of function in a specific body part.
For example, the statute lists 200 weeks for the loss of a leg, 240 weeks for the loss of an arm, and 75 weeks for the loss of a thumb. This schedule serves as a foundation for calculating settlements for certain types of workplace injuries.
How Do Impairment Ratings Factor In?
After you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which indicates your condition will no longer improve, your doctor may provide an impairment rating. The impairment rating measures how much function the injured body part has lost as a percentage. A permanent 25% loss of function in your arm, as certified by your doctor, means you are eligible for 60 weeks of compensation based on the arm’s value of 240 weeks in the chart.
Calculating the Dollar Amount of Your Settlement
North Carolina calculates workers’ compensation benefits based on two-thirds of your average weekly wage, with a limit set by state law. With an average weekly wage of $900, your weekly workers’ compensation benefit amounts to $600. The example shows that receiving $600 weekly for 60 weeks results in a $36,000 settlement. All weekly benefits are subject to state maximums.
In cases involving surgical intervention due to serious injuries, settlement amounts can be significantly higher. This is because surgery often leads to extended recovery times, increased medical costs, and sometimes permanent work restrictions, all of which affect the final payout.
Benefits may be structured as a lump sum settlement, which depends on both the type of injury and the necessity of continuous medical treatment. In cases involving workers’ compensation for serious injuries, such as a knee injury, shoulder injury, work injuries requiring surgery, or a spinal cord injury with long-term effects, lump sum settlements, known as clinchers, typically close the claim against future medical expenses. These settlements are especially critical for workers who need ongoing medical treatment and long-term care.
Other Types of Settlements
Some injuries cannot be accurately represented by the chart. Workers who cannot return to their employment roles due to their injuries can qualify for either temporary total disability (TTD) benefits or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits.
The settlement calculation in such cases moves beyond just scheduled weeks and becomes a detailed assessment of lost wages combined with anticipated future medical expenses. Vocational rehabilitation support forms part of the settlement benefits for certain injured workers.
How the Chart Helps Injured Workers Understand Their Options
Through the scheduled injury chart, injured workers can better understand their expected financial compensation for a permanent injury. For example, an amputation injury is specifically listed and assigned a set number of weeks for compensation, depending on the body part affected. This predictable compensation structure does not include factors like pain or emotional distress. Understanding how many weeks your injury is assigned, along with how impairment ratings may modify this duration, allows you to accurately assess the fairness of settlement offers and identify potential additional benefits.
FAQs
A: The settlement chart designates the list of injuries that appear in the NC. Gen. Stat. guidelines for North Carolina. § 97-31. The statute identifies specific body parts and assigns weeks of compensation based on the total loss or loss of function of these parts.
The value of permanent partial disability (PPD) settlements is calculated by multiplying the number of weeks by your weekly compensation rate, which is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. The document serves as a statutory guideline rather than a visual chart for settlement calculations.
A: A partial disability rating from your doctor, such as 20% loss of arm function, results in applying that percentage to the statutory week schedule amount. The arm has a total value of 240 weeks, so a 20% impairment rating results in 48 weeks of disability compensation. Multiply the number of weeks by your weekly benefit rate, which is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, to determine your total potential settlement amount.
A: Not every injury appears on the scheduled list found in § 97-31. You could receive wage compensation if your injury impacts your earning capacity through work limitations now or in the future.
For non-scheduled injuries, you could receive permanent partial disability benefits for significant impairments, such as serious bodily disfigurement, or temporary total disability or permanent total disability benefits if your injury impacts your earning capacity. Settlements may also account for vocational rehabilitation or long-term medical needs, tailored to your specific case.
A: You have the option to decline to accept a lump sum settlement. Employees who require continuous medical treatment often choose weekly payments to preserve their medical benefit access. Lump sum settlements known as clincher agreements provide convenience and finality, but usually conclude all claims, including future medical benefits, unless specific terms protect these benefits.
Carefully assess future medical expenses and potential income loss before accepting a lump sum, since clincher agreements typically prohibit reopening claims except in certain cases.
A: When your doctor determines that your medical condition has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) and will not progress further, you can usually think about settling your case. At this point, it is possible to obtain a permanent impairment rating, which becomes crucial for determining a just settlement amount. Settling your case before reaching MMI presents significant risks because your future recovery and medical requirements will remain uncertain.
Contact The Sumwalt Group
Understanding how your injury fits into North Carolina’s structured workers’ compensation system makes navigating settlements overwhelming for many people. Access to proper information and support transforms how you handle scheduled injuries, partial impairments, and complex claims. The Sumwalt Group provides guidance to injured workers about their rights and helps them assess settlement choices while seeking appropriate compensation.
When you achieve maximum medical improvement and contemplate settlement options, reach out to The Sumwalt Group to explore your next steps with a dedicated team focused on your recovery.
