Jacksonville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Being injured at work in Jacksonville, North Carolina, leads to medical expenses and lost wages while your employer’s insurer decides whether to compensate you. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers helps injured Jacksonville workers pursue the benefits they are owed, with no fee unless we win. Call (910) 455-5599 for a free case review.
How Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Jacksonville Workers' Comp Claim
Many injured workers are not sure whether to file a workers’ comp claim, a third-party lawsuit, or both, and that uncertainty can cost you benefits if you wait too long. We investigate how your injury happened, determine every avenue of compensation available, identify any liable third parties beyond your employer, and negotiate or litigate your claim as far as it needs to go. Our team, including Jacksonville personal injury lawyers led in part by Adam Smith, a North Carolina Board-Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law (see disclaimer below), handles every stage of your claim. Riddle & Riddle’s Jacksonville office also carries a 4.6-star rating across 114 local reviews.
Concretely, our team:
- Investigates the accident and gathers evidence supporting your claim.
- Determines whether workers’ comp, a third-party claim, or both apply to your situation.
- Identifies every liable party, not just your employer’s insurer.
- Negotiates directly with adjusters who are trained to minimize payouts.
- Takes your case to a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission if a fair settlement isn’t offered.
Video Transcript
Workers' Compensation in North Carolina: What You Need to Know
Most North Carolina employers with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage, and benefits are generally available regardless of who caused the accident. This no-fault structure means you typically don’t have to prove your employer did anything wrong to recover medical costs, disability payments, vocational rehabilitation, or death benefits. Workers’ comp does not, however, cover non-economic damages like pain and suffering, which is where a separate legal claim can come in.
Filing a Third-Party Personal Injury Lawsuit
If someone besides your employer caused or contributed to your injury, a separate personal injury lawsuit may be possible alongside your workers’ comp claim, opening the door to damages workers’ comp doesn’t cover, including emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Common scenarios include:
- A negligent driver hitting you while you were driving for work, which can support a Jacksonville car accident claim.
- A property owner who failed to fix a hazard at a job site you were visiting, which can support a Jacksonville construction accident claim.
- Defective machinery or safety equipment that malfunctioned and caused your injury is a matter for a Jacksonville product liability lawyer.
You generally cannot sue your own employer directly if they carry workers’ comp coverage, since that coverage is meant to be your primary remedy against them. An attorney can help you sort out whether your situation fits a workers’ comp or personal injury claim.
What If You're Blamed for Your Workplace Accident?
North Carolina follows a contributory negligence rule in standard personal injury cases, meaning even 1% fault on your part can bar you from recovering anything. Workers’ compensation works differently: benefits are generally available regardless of fault, with narrow exceptions such as intoxication at the time of the accident. When an employer or insurer tries to shift blame onto you, an attorney can push back with evidence from the scene, witness statements, and safety records.
It is also illegal for an employer to fire or retaliate against you for filing a legitimate claim, and employer retaliation is something our team watches for. If you’re worried that workers’ comp, if you were at fault for your own accident, disqualifies you, the no-fault structure of workers’ comp usually means it doesn’t, and our video on this exact question walks through why.
How Much Is Your Jacksonville Workers' Comp Claim Worth?
The value of your claim depends on several factors: injury severity, whether and when you can return to work, the quality of the evidence supporting your claim, and whether a third-party claim is also available. Total medical and rehabilitation costs also weigh heavily on what you may recover. A free consultation lets us give you a preliminary sense of estimating your workers’ comp case value based on the facts of your situation, without promising a specific dollar figure upfront.
Free Case Review
If you’ve been involved in a workplace incident, it’s crucial to understand your rights. Riddle & Riddle is here to guide you through the process and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
We'll Fight for Compensation Based on All of Your On-the-Job Injuries
Some common injury categories we handle for Jacksonville workers include:
- Broken bones.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Burns.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Amputations.
- Repetitive stress injuries.
- Wrongful death.
$1.7 Million Recovered After a Denied Workers' Comp Claim
A North Carolina worker’s leg-amputation claim was denied by the insurer, who blamed a pre-existing diabetes condition instead of the on-the-job injury (see disclaimer below). After the insurer offered only $5,000 at mediation, Gene Riddle and Adam Smith took the case to trial. Post-trial mediation ultimately secured a combined settlement of $1.7 million, made up of a lump sum, an annuity, and payment of medical bills.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Jacksonville Workplace Injury?
Beyond the case-value factors above, the type of claim you pursue determines which categories of compensation are actually available to you.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include medical bills, lost income and reduced earning potential, property damage, and medical equipment, most of which are available mainly through a third-party claim rather than workers’ comp alone.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and scarring or disfigurement, are also only recoverable through a third-party claim rather than through workers’ comp.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Riddle & Riddle for Your Jacksonville Workers' Comp Claim?
We handle Jacksonville workers’ comp claims on a contingency basis, with no upfront cost and no hourly billing. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-90, the North Carolina Industrial Commission must approve any attorney fee in a workers’ comp case before it can be collected, which protects injured workers from excessive fee arrangements. We can walk you through what a contingency fee means for your case during a free consultation.
Video Transcript
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Jacksonville Workers' Comp Claim?
North Carolina law generally requires written notice to your employer within 30 days of a workplace accident under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-22, and a formal claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission is generally barred after two years under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-24. Missing either deadline can jeopardize your right to benefits, so our workers’ comp filing deadlines in North Carolina guide breaks down what to do if you’re not sure where you stand.
Deadline for a Third-Party Personal Injury Lawsuit
Contact Riddle & Riddle's Jacksonville Workers' Compensation Attorneys Today
If you were injured at work in Jacksonville, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is ready to assist you in pursuing all benefits for your workers’ compensation claim and every dollar you deserve.We offer a free consultation, and there’s no fee unless we win. Call (910) 455-5599 today to get started.