What Are the Leading Causes of Fatal Workplace Injuries in North Carolina?

In 2024, 196 people in North Carolina died from workplace injuries, up from 177 the year before. Transportation incidents were the leading cause, followed by workplace violence, falls, contact with objects and equipment, and harmful exposures.

Behind every workplace fatality is a family trying to understand what happened and what comes next. Understanding the causes of fatal workplace accidents can also help families determine whether workers’ compensation death benefits may be available.

How Many Workplace Fatalities Occur in North Carolina?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks work-related deaths across the country. North Carolina recorded 196 fatal work injuries in 2024, a rate of 4.1 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. The national rate was 3.3.

North Carolina’s 2024 workplace fatalities included:

• 77 deaths from transportation incidents, accounting for 39% of all fatal work injuries
• 35 deaths from violent acts, more than double the previous year
• 32 deaths from falls, slips, and trips
• 31 deaths from contact with objects and equipment
• 20 deaths from exposure to harmful substances or environments

These numbers show that workplace fatalities are not limited to traditionally dangerous jobs. Fatal accidents can occur anywhere employees drive, work around equipment, perform tasks at height, or face hazardous conditions.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Workplace Accidents?

Transportation incidents are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in North Carolina. Falls, workplace violence, contact with equipment, and harmful exposures also account for a significant number of work-related deaths.

Transportation Accidents Are the Leading Cause of Workplace Fatalities

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries in North Carolina. Heavy truck drivers alone accounted for 37 deaths in 2024. Delivery drivers, employees traveling between job sites, and road crews also face significant transportation risks.

Around Charlotte, commercial drivers regularly travel heavily trafficked routes such as I-85 and I-77. Our guide to transportation industry accidents in North Carolina explains these workplace risks in more detail.

Fatal Falls at Work

Falls, slips, and trips caused 32 workplace deaths in North Carolina in 2024. Construction and maintenance workers can face particular risks when working on roofs, ladders, scaffolds, and other elevated surfaces.

Missing guardrails, unsecured ladders, and unsafe scaffolding can contribute to serious falls. Many construction workers also face risks from scaffolding accidents.

Struck-By Workplace Accidents

Struck-by accidents happen when a worker is hit by a moving or falling object. These accidents can involve:

1. Flying objects, such as debris from tools or machinery
2. Falling objects, including tools or materials dropped from above
3. Swinging objects, such as crane loads
4. Rolling objects, including vehicles and heavy equipment

Construction sites, road work zones, warehouses, and industrial facilities can all expose workers to these hazards.

Caught-In and Caught-Between Workplace Accidents

Caught-in and caught-between accidents occur when a worker becomes crushed, pinched, squeezed, or trapped by equipment or materials. Trench collapses are one dangerous example. Other accidents involve workers caught in machinery or pinned by moving equipment.

Lockout procedures, machine guards, and proper trench protections can reduce these risks. Employees in Charlotte manufacturing jobs may encounter many of these hazards.

Fatal Electrocutions and Harmful Exposures

Workplace electrocutions can involve contact with power lines, energized equipment, or exposed electrical systems. Electricians, utility workers, construction workers, and crane operators may face increased exposure to these hazards.

Other fatal workplace exposures can involve extreme heat, toxic chemicals, and confined spaces with dangerous air conditions. Outdoor workers can also face heat-related illness during North Carolina’s hottest months.

Workplace Violence and Work-Related Deaths

Violent acts caused 35 workplace deaths in North Carolina in 2024, up from 17 the previous year. Employees who work with the public, handle money, work alone, or work late hours may face increased risks.

Retail employees, drivers, security personnel, and healthcare workers are among those who can encounter workplace violence.

Which Industries Have the Most Workplace Fatalities in North Carolina?

Construction recorded more fatal workplace injuries than any other North Carolina industry in 2024, with 36 deaths. Transportation and warehousing followed closely with 35 deaths, up from 23 the previous year.

Construction workers face several of the hazards responsible for workplace deaths across the state. Falls, struck-by accidents, electrocutions, and caught-in or caught-between incidents can all occur on Charlotte-area job sites.

For a closer look at these risks, see our guide to common construction site hazards in NC. Families dealing with a serious or fatal job-site accident can also speak with a Charlotte construction accident lawyer about their options.

What Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits Are Available in North Carolina?

When a worker dies from a job-related injury or occupational disease, qualifying dependents may receive workers’ compensation death benefits. Under N.C.G.S. § 97-38, benefits may include:

• Weekly payments based on two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to the state maximum
• Weekly benefits generally paid for 500 weeks from the date of death
• Benefits for dependent children, which may continue beyond the standard period in certain circumstances
• Extended benefits for a surviving spouse who qualifies under North Carolina law
• Up to $10,000 for funeral expenses

How Long Do Workers’ Comp Death Benefits Last in North Carolina?

Workers’ compensation death benefits are generally paid for 500 weeks from the date of death. Certain qualifying dependents may receive benefits for longer.

The amount of the weekly payment is generally based on two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage, subject to North Carolina’s maximum compensation rate. Understanding how average weekly wages are calculated can help families estimate potential payments. Our overview of workers’ compensation benefits explains other benefits available under North Carolina law.

When Does a Work-Related Death Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

A death may qualify when it results from a compensable workplace injury or occupational disease. The work-related condition does not always have to be the worker’s only medical issue. A workplace injury that aggravates a pre-existing condition may still support a claim.

North Carolina also places timing requirements on death claims. In general, the death must occur within six years of the workplace injury or within two years of a final determination of disability, whichever is later.

Some cases involve a worker who is found dead under unexplained circumstances while performing their job. North Carolina courts recognize what is commonly called the Pickrell presumption in certain unexplained-death cases. It can create a presumption that the death arose out of employment unless evidence shows otherwise.

Can a Family File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Workplace Accident?

Sometimes. Workers’ compensation generally limits an employee’s ability to sue an employer for a covered workplace injury or death. However, a separate claim may be possible when someone other than the employer or a co-worker contributed to the fatal accident.

Examples may include a negligent driver, subcontractor, property owner, or manufacturer of defective equipment. These third-party claims are separate from workers’ compensation and may provide different types of damages.

Our comparison of workers’ comp and personal injury claims explains how the two systems can overlap. Families whose employer lacked required coverage can also review what happens when an employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance.

What Should Families Do After a Fatal Workplace Accident?

After a fatal workplace accident, families may need to protect a workers’ compensation claim while dealing with the immediate loss. A few early steps can help preserve important information:

1. Request several certified copies of the death certificate
2. Gather recent pay stubs, tax returns, and employment benefit records
3. Write down the names of coworkers and other potential witnesses
4. Keep all correspondence from the employer and insurance company
5. Avoid signing releases or giving recorded statements before understanding their effect
6. Ask whether the NC Department of Labor is investigating the death

North Carolina employers must report a work-related fatality within eight hours to the NC Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division. A state investigation may document the circumstances surrounding the accident, including witness information and potential safety violations.

Families should also understand the workers’ compensation claims process and applicable deadlines. When another person or company may have contributed to the accident, it is also important to determine whether a separate third-party claim exists.

Get Help After a Fatal Workplace Injury in North Carolina

Losing a family member in a workplace accident can leave questions about what happened, which benefits are available, and what needs to happen next. Those questions can become more complicated when an insurer disputes whether the death was work-related or another party contributed to the accident.

Waple & Houk, PLLC helps families understand their rights after fatal workplace injuries in North Carolina. Our Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyers can review the circumstances of the death, explain available benefits, and help determine the next steps.