North Carolina Workers Sick With COVID-19 Deserve Workers’ Compensation! North Carolina has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, and public officials, government employees, and community organizations are doing everything they can to protect North Carolinians –to protect our communities. Frontline workers are the selfless heroes of this pandemic, putting themselves and their families at risk as they fight to […]
Will workers compensation benefits for Coronavirus (COVID 19) be covered in North Carolina? The very debate is taking place amongst workers compensation attorneys and the answer is complicated. The courts can go either way once the issue is litigated. North Carolina does allow compensation for an occupational disease which is defined as diseases caused by conditions that are characteristic […]
Explosions in chemical plants and refineries are not common, but when they do occur, they can cause devastating injuries and immense property damage. The deadliest plant explosion on record occurred thirty-six years ago in India at a pesticide plant leading to more than 600,000 people being exposed to the deadly gas cloud that night. The gases caused victims throats and […]
It’s simple, right? You slip and fall at work, and you get workers’ compensation benefits. Not so fast…it’s not as easy as you may think. How do you know whether your slip and fall entitles you to workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina? Here are some guidelines: Did you fall in the “course and scope” of employment? Generally, to be […]
Sometimes, a conversation with a workers’ compensation insurance adjuster sounds like a bunch of gibberish. “PPD” is one of the most commonly used terms in an average North Carolina workers’ compensation claim. It sounds complicated, and your insurance adjuster may throw it out there just to confuse you. Really, PPD is straightforward, once you know the law: PPD = Permanent […]
Stabbed in the Back: Dealing with Betrayal after a Workers’ Comp Claim
So you worked in drywall for Ricky for eight years. You put in overtime when other workers didn’t show. You covered Ricky’s butt every time he overslept. And now, when you’re injured and need him most, he turns his back on you. Workplace betrayal – it happens. Dealing with betrayal after a workers’ compensation injury or disease is no fun. […]
North Carolinians yet again are reeling from the effects of a hurricane. The high winds and flooding have wreaked havoc on homes, schools, and businesses. Were you injured while preparing for Dorian or from cleaning up afterwards? If you got hurt while doing hurricane work for your employer, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Preparing for Dorian In […]
Ricci Law Firm regularly represents workers who develop serious back conditions. Compensable conditions range from herniated disks to degeneration to stenosis to spondylosis, and the list goes on. Many workers suffering from back pain fail to take advantage of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act by filing a claim. Why? Here are the top three misconceptions among workers suffering from […]
Generally, an employer is not allowed to retaliate against an injured worker just because he or she files a workers’ compensation claim. This includes all sorts of retaliation — demoting, firing, switching to an unfavorable shift, and denying raises and promotions. But beware, injured workers! That does NOT mean the filing of a workers’ compensation claim amounts to a bullet-proof […]
When you are injured on the job in North Carolina, an insurance company may pay your medical bills and disability benefits. If the paying insurer is a workers’ compensation insurer, you are good to go. But if the paying insurer is a different insurer, such as a health care plan or disability plan, then that insurer may place a “lien” […]