Were you injured on the job in Kinston, NC? It’s important to understand your rights when it comes to recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Workers’ compensation is one valuable option, while a personal injury lawsuit may also be an option in some cases. An experienced Kinston workers’ compensation lawyer at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers can review the facts and fight to maximize your financial award when you contact us at 800-525-7111.
Our attorneys bring over 190 years of combined legal experience to the table in every case we handle. You'll benefit from our skills, resources, and experience when you decide to trust us with your injury claim.
We’ve already recovered over $850 million in compensation awards for our injured clients. Now, we’re here to help you. Contact our law offices in Kinston, North Carolina, to schedule a free consultation and learn more today.
How Can Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Help With a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Kinston?
Our trusted Kinston workers' compensation attorneys at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers are here to make life easier after you get hurt on the job. We have the tools to help you fight for the maximum compensation possible after an injury.
Getting hurt on the job almost always creates challenges for the injured worker. When you’re dealing with painful injuries, you shouldn’t also be forced to fight with an uncaring insurance company.
When you hire our top-rated attorneys, we’ll support you by:
- Investigating your injuries, evaluating your medical records, and helping you get an independent medical exam if necessary
- Preparing all relevant paperwork for the insurance companies
- Identifying all responsible parties
- Hiring experts who can testify about complicated issues
- Assessing the value of your workers’ compensation claim
- Negotiating a settlement agreement that fully covers your losses
- Representing you at any hearings
- Protecting you if your claim is denied
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary, to secure full compensation
Is someone pressuring you to return to work before you’ve healed? Is your employer claiming your injuries aren’t work-related? Whether you’re facing a challenge or simply have questions about your legal rights, call our Kinston, North Carolina, personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.
How Common Are Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in North Carolina?
Workplace injuries and illnesses are extremely common in North Carolina. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 68,600 workplace injuries and illnesses were reported statewide in 2023. Nearly 50,000 of those disabilities required job restrictions or missed time at work.
Injured in Kinston? Contact Us Today!
Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina?
Nearly all North Carolina employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least three employees. Exceptions are extremely rare, so there’s a good chance you’re covered by workers’ compensation laws.
You’re eligible for workers’ compensation if:
- You’re classified as an employee, not an independent contractor
- You suffered an injury or illness because of something work-related
Eligibility does not depend on who caused your injuries. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, with rare exceptions. In fact, you can receive benefits even if your own actions contributed to an accident.
Your medical bills should be covered if you qualify under these criteria. To receive a weekly check, your disability must last for at least seven days. After a 21-day disability, you’ll also be paid for those first seven days of missed work.
What Types of Benefits Does Workers’ Compensation Provide in North Carolina?
The two primary types of workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina are medical compensation and wage replacement benefits. Death benefits are also available in fatal workplace injury cases.
Medical Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation should reimburse you for any medical expenses associated with the injury, including:
- Hospitalization
- Follow-up medical appointments
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Medications
- Medical supplies
- Surgeries
- Chiropractic care
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- Vocational rehabilitation may also be available if you’re unable to return to your old job after reaching maximum medical improvement, or MMI
It’s important that you see a doctor who has been approved by your employer. Visiting an unapproved doctor can jeopardize your right to have your medical bills covered.
Wage Replacement Benefits
If your disability reduces your earnings, workers’ compensation will pay about two-thirds of what you earned prior to a total disability. That said, your disability benefits depend on how the injury impacts your earnings.
The following classes of disability benefits exist in North Carolina:
- Temporary total disability benefits are designed to compensate for injuries that completely prevent you from working during recovery
- Temporary partial disability benefits if you can perform light-duty work and earn some income
- Permanent partial disability benefits if your earning capacity remains reduced after reaching MMI
- Permanent total disability benefits for up to 500 weeks if your injury prevents you from ever working again
Death benefits offer wage replacement benefits to surviving dependents of fatal work injury victims.
How Much Money Can I Get From Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina?
There’s no set answer to this question. All victims and all injuries are unique. That said, some factors will impact the value of nearly every workers’ compensation case.
Issues that our lawyers will consider include:
- The nature and permanence of your injury or illness
- Your average weekly wages prior to the disability
- Whether your doctor has authorized “light duty” work, and how much you can earn with the disability
- Whether your earning power remains reduced even after reaching MMI
Regardless of your earnings prior to the disability, your benefits check will be subject to a cap. You can receive no more than $1,380 per week if your injuries occurred in 2025.
How Can Personal Injury Laws Impact My Overall Compensation Award After a Work Accident in Kinston?
Many injured workers rely solely on workers’ compensation as they recover. However, it’s always possible that you could have the right to sue for damages. It all depends on who was responsible for your injuries.
If you, your employer, or a co-worker caused a workplace accident, you’ll likely be limited to workers’ comp. If someone else was responsible, you may be able to pursue additional compensation.
You may have a valid third-party claim against:
- A negligent driver who caused a motor vehicle accident
- A third-party property owner who failed to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition
- The manufacturer of defective work equipment
It’s valuable to understand your rights under personal injury laws. Personal injury laws allow victims to pursue compensation for both financial losses and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. Workers’ compensation benefits, of course, are limited to economic coverage.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in North Carolina?
Like most personal injury law firms, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers handles cases on a contingency fee basis.
That helps you because:
- You can get legal representation with no up-front cost
- You only pay if we win
- You pay a percentage of your final compensation award
We know that money is probably tight right now. With a contingency fee, you won’t have to worry about racking up a big bill for legal services.
Will North Carolina’s Comparative Negligence Laws Impact My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
No. While North Carolina has a harsh contributory negligence law, your workers’ compensation benefits aren’t impacted by shared fault. However, in personal injury cases, such as those you might be able to bring against a third party, victims lose their right to recover compensation if they’re even slightly responsible for their own injuries.
Our Lawyers in Kinston Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Workplace Injuries
Our Kinston workers’ compensation attorneys often represent clients who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Hearing loss
- Organ damage
- Occupational diseases, including cancer
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Workplace injuries can have a significant impact on your life. While that’s why workers’ compensation exists, there’s no guarantee that your benefit check will be fair. To make sure you’re fully compensated, consult our lawyers in Kinston. We’ll review your case for free.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Workplace Accident in North Carolina?
It’s important to act quickly if you are injured on the job. In North Carolina, you have just 30 days to notify your employer about an injury. While you should provide notice as quickly as possible, you risk losing your workers’ compensation benefits if you wait more than 30 days.
You must provide the required notice in writing and orally. Our lawyers can help with all of the paperwork you’ll be required to complete.
If you retain the right to sue for damages via a personal injury claim, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Again, you lose your right to compensation if you wait longer.
Contact a Trusted Kinston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is a trusted law firm that’s been around for decades. We know exactly how the legal system in Kinston, North Carolina, works and how to maximize your compensation award if you’ve been hurt in a workplace accident. Call today to learn more about how an experienced Kinston workers’ compensation lawyer can add value in your case.