Distribution Center Workers
At Waple & Houk, PLLC, our workers’ compensation attorney knows distribution and logistics in the Charlotte Region are primed for continued growth. Charlotte’s infrastructure and proximity to other major markets make the city ideal for distribution and logistics operations.
The Charlotte region provides easy access to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, four major interstates across the region — including I-40, I-77, I-85, and I-495 — easy access to three major ports in Wilmington, Charleston, and Savannah within 250 miles, the Charlotte Inland Port, and the state-of-the-art Norfolk Southern and CSX intermodal facilities.
The advantageous distribution and logistics options in the Charlotte region have led to booming distribution center employment growth, which measured over 60% last year alone. With more distribution companies realizing the benefits of being in the Charlotte area, more workers are flocking to these expansive workplaces for well-paying employment opportunities.
Unfortunately, the unprecedented growth can lead to significant workplace safety oversights and poor training processes that lead to workers suffering severe injuries and tragic on-the-job fatalities.
If you or a loved one has been injured while working in a distribution center in Charlotte, contact our experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney for help ensuring your claim is properly reviewed by the insurance company, so you can get the benefits you deserve.
Who is Most at Risk for Distribution Center Injuries in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Some of the country’s largest retailers have distribution centers in the Charlotte region, including Ross Stores Inc., Amazon Fulfillment Center, Family Dollar, Target Corporation, Merchant Distributors, Chewy, and Walmart Stores Inc.
Some of the most common employment opportunities within these distribution centers include:
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers
- Light Truck Drivers
- Packers and Packagers
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving
- General and Operations Managers
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
No matter your position within a Charlotte distribution center, you are eligible to pursue workers’ compensation benefits after you have suffered a workplace injury. If your employer or the insurance company is showing resistance in response to your claim, contact our skilled workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte today for help.
What Are Some of the Common Injuries to Distribution Center Workers in North Carolina?
Because there are so many moving parts and employment positions associated with distribution center work in Charlotte, injuries can occur any time negligence or safety hazards are a factor.
Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in warehouses and distribution centers throughout the Charlotte region include, but are not limited to:
- Caught Between Objects
- Crushing Injuries
- Exposure to Hazardous Materials
- Forklift Injuries
- Hit by Falling Objects
- Loading/Unloading Injuries
- Overexertion or Overuse Injuries
- Repetitive Stress Injuries
- Slip & Trip Injuries
- Vehicle Accidents
When North Carolina residents have been injured at work, they should have easy access to workers’ compensation benefits, so they can get the medical care and other advantages they need to fully heal. At Waple & Houk, PLLC, we help North Carolina distribution center workers eliminate the obstacles that stand in their way of getting the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve, so they can move forward with confidence. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Are All North Carolina Employers Required to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act requires all businesses with three or more workers to carry workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina include:
- Medical Treatment
- Disability/Wage Replacement Benefits, calculated as two-thirds of your average weekly wage and can be paid in the form of weekly checks or a lump sum, including:
-
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): When you have to take some time off to recover that is more than 7 days.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): When you can return to work but in a reduced capacity earning a lower income than you did before the injury.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): When you suffer a permanent injury but can return to work but in a reduced capacity.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): When you suffer a permanent injury and cannot work at all.
- Vocational Rehabilitation benefits
- Death Benefits
If you have been injured or lost a loved one who was working in a distribution center in North Carolina, contact our dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers in Charlotte today to learn more about your legal rights and options to obtain benefits that match your full recovery needs.
What Should I Do if I am Hurt While Working in a North Carolina Distribution Center?
Under North Carolina state law, you should report a workplace injury to your employer within 30 days of its occurrence. Ideally, you should report a workplace injury immediately after it occurs — so there is no question about where it happened — verbally and in writing.
Next, Seek medical attention as soon as possible using an employer-approved physician. Unless you have suffered a significant medical emergency, failing to use an approved physician may jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim. After seeking care, follow all your physician’s instructions carefully, and go to all follow-up appointments.
As you continue through your recovery keep a written record of your injury and symptoms and take pictures to visually tell a story. Be consistent and factual in details, so you are preserving evidence while it is still fresh and help build a stronger case.
File a workers’ compensation claim with the assistance of a Charlotte workers’ compensation attorney for distribution center workers. If your employer is not forthcoming with your claim, you will need to file a claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
If this is true, it is crucial that you call in a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer for distribution center workers in North Carolina. An attorney will help to prove your case and guide you through the intricate legal process.
How Can the Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Waple & Houk, PLLC Help with My Claim?
It is crucial to hire a qualified workers’ compensation attorney for distribution center employees as soon as possible after suffering a workplace injury or illness.
While you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, employers and insurance companies are notorious for denying workers’ compensation claims even when they are legitimate. With an attorney, you have better chances of obtaining the benefits owed to you.
There are many things that an attorney does to ensure the most favorable outcome in your case:
- Putting Together Strong Medical Evidence to Support Your Case
- Handling Negotiations
- Representing You at Your Workers’ Compensation Hearing
- Filing an Appeal If Your Distribution Center Workers’ Compensation Claim in Denied
At Waple & Houk, PLLC, we offer our end-to-end legal services for distribution center workers’ compensation clients on a contingency basis, meaning that you only pay after we have secured a fair settlement agreement or verdict. Keep in mind that workers’ compensation attorneys aren’t allowed to charge more than 25% of the compensation amount in North Carolina.
To ensure your rights are protected and that you get the full benefits you deserve, you need to get an experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorney for distribution center workers at Waple & Houk, PLLC Law involved as soon as possible.
Call us today at (704) 954-8697 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.
