Goldsboro Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorneys

Injured on the job? The impact of workplace accidents can be devastating, and a Goldsboro workers’ comp lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve after a workplace injury.

At Riddle & Brantley, our personal injury lawyers have been handling workplace injury claims since 1985. Together, we’ve secured millions of dollars in compensation for those injured while on the job (see disclaimer below). Since 2000 alone, we’ve recovered over $600 million in total compensation for our deserving clients (see disclaimer below).

For a FREE consultation with a workers’ comp lawyer, please call (919) 778-9700. We’ve been serving the area for almost 40 years. Many of our attorneys and staff call Goldsboro home, and it is our headquarters for a reason. We love this area and are proud to serve the people of Goldsboro and greater North Carolina.

The consultation is free, and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we get you the workers’ comp benefits you need and deserve.

Call (919) 778-9700 and let’s review your claim. A workers’ compensation attorney at Riddle & Brantley can review all the details of your case, advise you on your legal options, and if hired by you, fight tirelessly to get you the workers’ comp benefits you need and deserve.

Why Hire a Workers’ Comp Attorney at Riddle & Brantley?

Many people who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses collect workers’ compensation benefits for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs. Additionally, families who have lost a loved one to a workplace accident can receive death benefits through this system. However, although you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits, it can be difficult to get a fair settlement.

Your employer and the insurance company may try to downplay the severity and impact of your injuries. In some cases, you may even receive a workers’ compensation claim denial. To be clear, if you receive a denial for workers' compensation, you still have legal options — call the attorneys at Riddle & Brantley for a free case review.

To ensure you receive the benefits you deserve, you should always consult with an experienced  workers’ compensation lawyer.

“This settlement changed me and my family’s lives.”

-Linda B., Riddle & Brantley client

At Riddle & Brantley, our workers’ compensation attorneys have experience representing injured workers throughout eastern North Carolina. We can help you, too. An employer or an employer’s insurer may question whether your injury, illness, or condition was work-related. Alternatively, they may dispute the amount of benefits you deserve. You may face a long wait for workers’ compensation, or you may need to file an appeal.

We help employees when they face these challenging situations. For a FREE consultation with an award-winning workers’ compensation lawyer (see disclaimer below), please call (919) 778-9700 or complete the convenient form below.

The consultation is free and if you decide to hire us, there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we win your case.

“I was more than happy with the outcome of my workers’ compensation case.”

–Linda M., Riddle & Brantley client

Board-Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation

As advocates for injured workers, we know the workers’ compensation system inside and out. Attorneys Chris Brantley and Adam Smith are North Carolina Board-Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law. That designation is reserved for lawyers with have demonstrated knowledge, experience, and achievement in their field.

Workers’ compensation lawyers Chris and Adam also have extensive experience in handling workers’ comp appeals. They also met education requirements, had their competence and qualifications verified by other lawyers, and passed a challenging exam to earn this distinction.

At Riddle & Brantley, your case will be in the hands of workers’ comp lawyers who have specific training and knowledge regarding workers’ comp laws and regulations. Reach out to us at (919) 778-9700 for help with your case.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

North Carolina law requires most employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. This kind of insurance provides benefits to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. An injury is generally covered if it took place in the “course and scope” of your employment.

Coverage may also include injuries that occur on work trips and sales calls.

An injured worker must file a claim to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer or the insurance company initially decides whether the claim is accepted — but do NOT assume that the first decision is final. A workers’ compensation lawyer at Riddle & Brantley can help you fight for the benefits you deserve.

If your claim is accepted, then your benefits may include compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning potential
• Permanent injury and temporary or permanent disability

You receive these benefits each week.

“What Happens If My Claim is Denied?”

However, if the insurance company denies your claim for any reason, then you have the right to request a hearing and challenge their denial.

Hearing requests can go through several levels, including written motions, phone or virtual hearings, in-person hearings before the North Carolina Industrial Commission (hearings by a Deputy Commissioner and then potentially an appeal to the Full Commission) and even appeals to the appellate courts of North Carolina (the North Carolina Court of Appeals, or the state Supreme Court).

In these situations, a workers’ compensation lawyer can make all the difference in determining whether you receive benefits in your workers’ comp appeal.

“Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?”

North Carolina workers’ compensation laws do not require injured employees to work with a lawyer to file a workers’ comp claim. However, you do have the right to hire an attorney to stand up for you and offer legal advice. In many cases, working with a workers’ comp lawyer is the best way to make sure you get every dollar you deserve.

After all, your employer or your employer’s insurance company may hire a team of lawyers to fight your claim. At the very least, your employer may try to limit the amount of money you receive. A workers’ comp attorney can help ensure you get what you deserve. Please call (919) 778-9700 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

You deserve the same level of legal experience on your side. Our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you fight for your right to a fair recovery. In some cases, you may even recover compensatory damages in addition to what is paid through the workers’ comp system. Although workers’ comp laws usually prohibit you from filing against your employer, you may be able to file a third-party claim if another person or company other than the employer is liable for your injuries.

In the event you recover compensation from the third party, the workers’ comp insurance company may have a claim for reimbursement of the amount it paid on your claim. This can be complicated but this is something that our Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialists can help you handle.

“Should I Wait to Hire a Lawyer if My Claim Is Not Denied?”

In most cases, it is wise to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney early on in the process. Insurance companies will want to take a recorded statement from you early in the process, and you will have to fill out an incident report and Form 18. There are many technicalities in the North Carolina workers’ compensation system, and if you do not describe your claim using the proper terminology, you can jeopardize the availability of benefits. 

For example, you will be asked whether you suffered an “accident” or a “specific traumatic incident”, and if your injury was in the “normal course and scope of your employment.” These terms carry specific legal definitions that differ from common usage of the terms.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission website explains that a workplace accident as defined by North Carolina law is an interruption of the normal job routine arising out of, and occurring in the course of, the employee’s employment.

Insurance companies know these rules. Injured workers usually don’t. If you have been hurt on the job, it’s important to talk to a qualified worker’s compensation lawyer to protect your rights and seek maximum compensation.

Handling All Steps of the Workers’ Comp Claim Process

We have been helping injured North Carolina workers for decades. We know how to build a robust argument for your claim and will always work to protect your interests when a claim is in dispute.

Our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys can assist you step-by-step through workers’ compensation process, including:

• Investigation
• Application
• Mediation
• Hearing
• Award
• Appeals before the Full Industrial Commission or our Appellate Courts

For a FREE consultation with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer, please call (919) 778-9700 or complete the fast and easy form below. There are no upfront costs and we don’t get paid unless you do. If we don’t recover workers’ comp benefits for you, you won’t pay any attorney fees.

Call (919) 778-9700 and let our experienced workplace accident attorneys review your claim.

Common Workplace Accidents in North Carolina

Workplace accidents take many forms and can occur in any industry. Some workplaces, such as construction sites, contain obvious dangers — even routine day-to-day tasks may carry a chance of serious injury if employers are negligent. However, workplace accidents also take place in settings that you might never expect to be dangerous. These may include hospitals, nursing homes, and even office environments. Also, motor vehicle accidents account for many workplace accidents, and workers’ comp generally covers vehicle crashes that involve employees who are on the road as part of their work duties.

Common types of workplace accidents include:

• Truck accidents
• Car accidents
• Slip and falls
• Being struck by an object
• Electrical accidents
• Assaults
• Being caught between equipment and an immovable object
• Machinery accidents
• Equipment failure
• Falling objects
• Violence
• Repetitive motion injuries

Common Workplace Injuries

Common types of workplace injuries and illnesses that may qualify for a workers’ compensation claim include:

• Back injuries
• Brain injuries
• Amputations (loss of limbs)
• Burns
• Fractures
• Head injuries
• Loss of vision
• Loss of hearing
• Knee injuries 
• Hand injuries
• Neck injuries
• Overexertion injuries
• Respiratory illnesses
• Spinal cord injuries
• Toxic exposure
• Repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel

Additionally, families may be able to recover benefits through workers’ comp if a workplace accident causes an employee’s wrongful death.

In cases in which workplace injury results in long-term disability, our Social Security disability lawyers are also ready to help with these claims.

Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

Riddle & Brantley was founded on these basic principles: integrity, honesty, compassion, and personal service. We take our duty seriously and we all share a commitment to being zealous advocates for the “little guy” – the employee who is struggling to get his or her life back on track after an injury.

We know how workers’ compensation insurance companies operate. Like you, we are often shocked at how hard they may try to avoid paying you fair compensation. They hire teams of lawyers, particularly in cases of permanent disability. Their goal is to reduce the value of your claim – or pay you nothing.

However, you deserve justice and the workers’ comp lawyers at Riddle & Brantley are here to help you level the playing field.

For a FREE consultation with an experienced work injury lawyer, please call (919) 778-9700.

There is no obligation, and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case.

Results for Injured Workers

• $2,750,000 — workers’ comp attorneys Gene Riddle and Adam Smith secured $2.75 million in total compensation for our client, a construction worker, who suffered the eventual loss of his right leg below the knee, as well as other injuries, in a terrible truck accident while on the job.
• $2,475,000 — Our attorneys represented a construction welder who fell from a platform and suffered a disabling head injury, requiring life-long care. We helped set up a guardianship and two trusts to ensure his lifelong care, and also secured $2.475 million in total compensation in one of the most complex workers’ compensation cases we’ve ever handled.
• $829,000 — Riddle & Brantley attorney secured $829,000 in a workers’ compensation case when our client was hit by a falling tree limb while on the job scouting cell tower locations.
• $200,000 — Riddle & Brantley's client, a truck driver, suffered serious injuries to his neck, back, and shoulder, and several of his claims for workers' compensation were initially denied by the insurance company. We requested a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission and ultimately secured $200,000 in compensation plus additional expenses from the insurance company in mediation.

If you live outside the greater Goldsboro area, we also have offices across North Carolina and are even happy to meet you at your home if it’s more convenient. We also offer free consultations by phone, email, text, and even video conference.  Many clients now prefer a contactless experience, and so we offer virtual meetings either by Zoom or Facetime.  And we can exchange most documents by email and secure needed signatures via Docusign.

Please call (919) 778-9700 today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a workers’ comp lawyer.

“Riddle & Brantley found me all the available money from the insurance companies.”

-David H., Riddle &

You deserve justice and we would love to help however we can.

Justice Counts.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.