Charlotte Forklift Work Injury Attorney
Charlotte has a thriving manufacturing sector led by large companies like Honeywell and Nucor, and there are many factories, warehouses, and distribution centers in the area that require many forklifts operating at maximum efficiency every day. However, accidents involving these vehicles can be devastating. If you have been hurt at work in a forklift accident, it is vital to consult a Charlotte forklift work injury lawyer at your first opportunity.
Representing Injured Forklift Accident Victims in Charlotte, NC
The attorneys at The Sumwalt Group have extensive experience representing injured workers in the Charlotte area in their workers’ compensation cases. We understand that you’re likely to have many questions in the aftermath of your accident, and our goal is to provide the guidance and support you need in this challenging situation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 68,600 nonfatal workplace injuries reported by private employers in North Carolina in 2023, and more than 41,000 of these injuries resulted in days away from work, new job training, or medical restrictions. The National Safety Council reported that in 2023, forklift accidents accounted for 67 workplace deaths and nearly 25,000 nonfatal injuries throughout the United States. Many of these injuries include shoulder injury, knee injury, or even severe spinal cord injury that may require long-term treatment.
The first steps you take after any workplace injury in Charlotte are crucial. You may be eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits, but you will need to hire a forklift work injury lawyer to have the greatest possible chance of success with your case. The right attorney can help you make sense of your situation and help you maximize your total compensation.
Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Charlotte
Almost every employer in North Carolina must have a workers’ compensation insurance policy, and most regular workers are covered if they suffer injuries while working. Workers’ compensation in North Carolina works on a no-fault basis, so you don’t have to prove fault for your accident to qualify for benefits. However, you need to report the injury to your supervisor immediately and prove that your injury occurred while you were working in good faith.
Your employer must provide the materials you need to file your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. You will need to undergo a medical evaluation to determine your remaining functional ability after the injury. This will determine the amount you can receive in disability benefits, and a successful claim for workers’ compensation should cover all medical expenses related to your work injury. For some forklift accident victims, this could include treatment for work injuries requiring surgery or ongoing therapy for repetitive stress injury caused by physically demanding warehouse labor.
This process may seem straightforward, but the reality is that you could face a variety of unexpected challenges you won’t be able to resolve on your own. Insurance companies often attempt to settle for as little as possible, and some employers may interfere with workers’ compensation claims, leading to denied workers’ compensation benefits. You need to hire a forklift work injury lawyer to ensure the greatest chance of securing a fair outcome.
The team at The Sumwalt Group can help you understand your recovery options after a forklift work injury in Charlotte. We have decades of proven experience helping injured workers recover, and we’re ready to apply this experience to your case. You have limited time to file your workers’ compensation claim, so reach out to our team at your first opportunity to learn how a Charlotte forklift work injury lawyer can help.
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FAQs
The amount you can receive in workers’ compensation benefits will depend on the serious nature of your injury. A successful claim for workers’ compensation typically provides full coverage for medical expenses as well as disability benefits paid according to your remaining functional ability. Your Charlotte forklift work injury lawyer at The Sumwalt Group can help you secure a fair determination of benefits.
You should hire a forklift work injury lawyer to maximize your chance of success with your claim, and you will be better prepared to confront any unexpected challenges that arise throughout your case proceedings. Additionally, if you have grounds for legal recourse outside of workers’ compensation, you are more likely to succeed if you have an attorney representing you. Hire a forklift work injury lawyer at your first opportunity so they can help you file your claim.
Yes, it is possible for you to be disqualified from workers’ compensation benefits in Charlotte if it is proven that you were at work while you were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or if you intentionally failed to follow workplace safety regulations. As long as you were working in good faith, causing your own injury should not disqualify you from getting workers’ compensation benefits.
You likely cannot bring a suit against your employer after a forklift accident at work if they have workers’ compensation insurance, except under very specific circumstances. However, you could have grounds for a third-party personal injury case if any party outside of your work is responsible for the accident, such as a defective product manufacturer. Consult a Charlotte forklift work injury lawyer right away so they can determine the full scope of your legal options.
If you are unable to return to your job after your injury, you may qualify to receive permanent disability benefits, and other forms of benefits, such as Social Security Disability, could also be available to you. However, if you retain functional capacity to work but cannot return to your previous position, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy may offer vocational rehabilitation benefits that would help pay for the cost of new job training.
The team at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers has more than 50 combined years of experience handling all types of work injury cases for clients in the Charlotte area. We are confident we can help you reach a positive conclusion to your case and maximize your benefits, but it will be crucial for you to hire a forklift work injury lawyer right away to have the greatest chance of success. Get in touch with us today to set up a free consultation and find out what we can do to help.