Wake Forest Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Getting hurt on the job in Wake Forest can leave you facing mounting medical bills and lost wages while you wait to see whether the insurance carrier will fight your workers’ compensation claim. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers helps injured workers understand their rights, file strong claims, and push back when a carrier tries to underpay or deny what is owed. If you need a Wake Forest workers’ compensation lawyer, contact Riddle & Riddle today for a free case review.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle for Your Wake Forest Workers' Compensation Case
A workplace injury claim can turn into a fight with your employer’s insurance carrier just when you need support the most. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers has represented North Carolina workers’ compensation clients for more than 40 years as a family-run firm, and every case is handled by a dedicated legal team, not a single overloaded attorney.
Riddle & Riddle’s legal team includes case managers with insurance industry backgrounds and investigators with law enforcement experience, so the people building your case already know how carriers evaluate and dispute claims. Adam Smith holds a Board-Certified Specialist credential in workers’ compensation law from the North Carolina State Bar, which requires attorneys to meet specific experience, testing, and continuing education standards to earn and maintain (see disclaimer below).
Video Transcript
I’m Alex Riddle if you were injured on the job you may be wondering how can I get compensation give us a call we have two board certified. Specialists that may be able to help Justice does count especially for those injured on the job call us today for a free case review
Real Workers' Compensation Case Results
A 46-year-old construction worker was struck by a tractor-trailer in a work zone and lost his right leg below the knee. The workers’ compensation carrier paid $2,000,000 in disability and medical benefits and waived its lien, and the trucking company’s insurer separately paid its $750,000 policy limit at mediation, for a combined recovery of $2,750,000 (see disclaimer below).
In another case, an insurer denied a laborer’s leg-amputation workers’ compensation claim, blaming a pre-existing diabetes condition. When mediation reached an impasse over a $5,000 offer, Riddle & Riddle took the case to trial, and a post-trial mediation secured a combined settlement of $1,700,000 (see disclaimer below).
Read more about our case results from workers’ compensation and other injury claims across North Carolina.
What Injured Workers Say About Riddle & Riddle
Lakeisha D.
C. Schaeffer
Read more client reviews from people we have represented.
Understanding North Carolina's Workers' Compensation System
North Carolina workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. You do not need to prove your employer was negligent, only that your injury happened in the course and scope of your job. Both employees and undocumented workers are generally eligible for benefits, though independent contractors are usually not; that distinction is explained further in our blog post on independent contractor coverage rules.
North Carolina’s workers’ compensation system is governed by North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 97. Wake Forest’s population grew 18.2% between 2020 and 2024, one of the fastest rates of any municipality in the state according to the NC Office of State Budget and Management, and that growth, including the expansion of WakeMed’s Wake Forest healthcare campus, has brought more construction, warehouse, service-sector, and healthcare jobs to the area, and with that growth comes a wider range of workplace injuries this law is meant to cover.
What Benefits Does Workers' Compensation Pay in North Carolina?
Video Transcript
What benefits can you receive for North Carolina workers compensation claim? I’m Gene Riddle with Riddle and Riddle Injury Attorneys. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. And the benefits that you can receive for such an injury are as follows. Number one, the insurance carrier will pay for all of your approved medical treatment. Number two, the insurance carrier will pay your lost wages at the rate of two thirds of your average weekly wage until your approved doctor returns you to work. And number three, the insurance carrier will pay for any permanent injury to any body part that is assigned by your treating approved physician or pay it for scarring and disfigurement. At Riddle and Riddle, we know each case is different and that’s why we had a North Carolina State Bar certified workers compensation specialist to help win maximum recovery for you. Give us a call today. We’re here and we’re ready to help you get maximum compensation for your North Carolina workers compensation injury case.
Temporary Total and Temporary Partial Disability
Temporary total disability pays while you cannot work at all during recovery. Temporary partial disability pays a reduced benefit if you return to lower-paying or reduced-hours work while you recover.
Permanent Partial and Permanent Total Disability
Death Benefits
North Carolina workers’ compensation pays death benefits to eligible dependents when a work injury is fatal, covering a portion of lost wages and burial expenses up to the statutory cap.
Our North Carolina workers’ compensation disability benefits blog post explains these disability benefit categories, temporary total, temporary partial, permanent partial, and permanent total disability, and death benefits, in more depth.
How to File a Wake Forest Workers' Compensation Claim
Filing a workers’ compensation claim in North Carolina generally follows the same sequence:
- Report your injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible, within 30 days of the accident.
- Seek treatment from an authorized medical provider so your injury is documented from the start.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster before speaking with a lawyer.
- File Form 18, Notice of Accident to Employer and Claim of Employee, with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Your employer’s own Form 19 report does not substitute for your own Form 18 filing.
You generally have two years from the date of your accident to file Form 18, per North Carolina General Statutes § 97-24. Our documents needed to file a workers’ compensation claim blog post covers what to gather before you file, and the NC Industrial Commission’s information for claimants explains the process directly from the agency that handles it.
What to Do if Your Wake Forest Workers' Comp Claim Is Denied
A denial does not end your case: you can file Form 33 to request a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and mediation often takes place before that hearing. Some common reasons claims get denied include:
- Late reporting of the injury to your employer.
- Disputed medical evidence about the cause or extent of the injury.
- An employer disputing whether the injury is actually work-related.
- A missed filing deadline.
Our case managers’ insurance-industry backgrounds mean they already understand how carriers build a denial, which strengthens your case when you push back on one. Read more about what to do when a denied workers’ compensation claim happens to you.
Was your claim denied? Talk to our team today. Call 800-525-7111 for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wake Forest Workers' Compensation Claims
Can my employer fire me for filing a workers' compensation claim in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina law prohibits retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim that you have a legitimate basis to file.
Can I still get workers' compensation if I am undocumented?
Yes. Our workers’ compensation claim if undocumented guide explains that North Carolina law generally makes benefits available to undocumented workers, the same as any other employee.
How much does a workers' compensation lawyer cost?
Riddle & Riddle offers a free case review and works on a no-fee basis unless we win. Industrial Commission-approved fees vary by case, so we will walk you through exactly what to expect once we understand your situation.
Contact a Wake Forest Workers' Compensation Lawyer Today
Let our family provide you with the legal support you need after a workplace injury. Our team is available by phone, email, text, or video, so you can start your case without an in-person meeting. Call 800-525-7111 or the Raleigh office at 919-876-3020 for a free case review, with no fee unless we win.