Can You Collect Workers’ Compensation if You Have an Office Job?

Most people with office jobs don’t think they’re eligible for workers’ compensation. It’s true that certain workers are more likely to get hurt at work than others. When you think about a work-related injury, you probably envision a construction worker or fireman. Odds are an administrative assistant is not the first person who comes to mind. While this may be the case, it doesn’t really matter what you do for a living.

If you get hurt while on the job, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. If your claim is denied for some reason, then you should take the time to meet with a skilled Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyer. You have rights and it’s important that you know if they’ve been violated.

Almost All Employees in North Carolina are Eligible for Workers Comp

Unless you meet one of the rare exceptions, your job will be covered under workers’ compensation. All North Carolina employers are required to carry insurance in case one of their employees gets hurt. This is how they’re able to pay for your medical care and provide you with weekly replacement benefits. There are only a handful of exceptions to workers’ comp eligibility. Some of these include:

• Federal workers
• Railroad workers
• Agricultural workers
• Nannies, servants, and other domestic workers

The law also only requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have more than three (3) employees. If the only employees are you and the owner, then you probably won’t be able to claim workers’ comp benefits. Instead, you may have to rely on disability insurance. Or you may fall into that small pocket of people who are allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit against the company.

Certain Jobs are More Dangerous than Others

Even though most people are eligible for workers comp benefits, there are certain industries that are more dangerous than others. For example, people who work as truck drivers or delivery persons are at a big risk of getting hurt. They could get into an accident, or they may end up with damage to their knees from hopping in and out of their company vehicle. Construction workers are also more likely to get injured on the job. The nature of their work is just different from most other jobs. If you work in a position that is normally safe, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever get hurt.

Are You an Employee or an Independent Contractor?

The other thing you want to confirm is that you’re an employee and not an independent contractor. Consultants and independent contractors are not covered under workers’ compensation in North Carolina. If you fall into one of these categories, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the company instead. The only way to know for sure is to call and talk to an experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyer. They can review your case and give you an idea of what to do next.

Office Workers May Suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you work in a position that requires you to type all day, there’s a good chance you may end up with carpal tunnel syndrome. This is caused by repetitive movement of your wrists. The only way to deal with this condition is to have surgery. You shouldn’t have any problem qualifying for workers comp but there are never any guarantees.

If your claim happens to be denied or delays, give one of our Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyers a call right away. You want to make sure that your claim is handled properly from the start. Once the insurance company realizes you have an attorney, they’ll take your claim more seriously.

If Your Claim is Denied Call an Experienced Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

For the most part, people who get hurt on the job have no problem getting their workers’ comp benefits. Unless the insurance company has a good reason to deny your claim, you should start getting your benefits within a couple of weeks. It really depends on how serious your injuries are and how long you’re out of work. If you only miss a couple of days, you wouldn’t be entitled to benefits. You’ll be expected to use your sick time or personal time.

In fact, you won’t even become eligible for benefits until you’ve been out of work for seven (7) days. This waiting period is only waived in very specific circumstances. If you’re out of work longer than that and you still haven’t been approved, you need to call a skilled Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyer.