I live in Hickory and got hurt at work. What should I do?

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I live in Hickory and got hurt at work. What should I do?

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I live in Hickory, North Carolina, and I got hurt at work, but I’m not sure how bad I’m hurt and don’t want to look like a whiner or make my boss mad. What should I do?

Whether you work for one of the more prominent companies in the Hickory, North Carolina region, or a smaller one, there’s always a risk of getting hurt at work. When it happens, no matter how serious the injury might appear to be at the time, there are some simple but crucial steps that you need to take immediately to protect your rights under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act.

An injured worker’s primary responsibility is to report the injury to their supervisor or human resources. They should ask to get checked out by a medical professional to be safe. Often, larger companies in the Hickory, North Carolina area have a routine procedure of sending employees to specific medical facilities such as urgent care for initial treatment. By getting checked out, an injured worker confirms that they are reporting a work injury. Even at small companies that don’t require written reports after an accident, an injured employee can still give clear notice of the accident and their intent to get checked out.

One way to deal with situations with no clear company policy or documentation for reporting an injury is to text a supervisor or boss who may not have witnessed the accident. Let them know that you were hurt and need to get treatment. A text can and has helped quite a few injured workers prove to an adjuster that they did tell their employer, and the employer failed to inform the insurance company. If there are witnesses to the accident, you should get them to report it if they are willing.  Remember, giving notice to your employer means the insurance company is deemed to have notice as well, even if your company fails to report the injury to them. If the employer does not tell the insurance company what happened, that’s not your problem.

After reporting an accident, an employer should provide an injured worker with a “Form 18” that the worker must file with the industrial commission. Many employers do not do this, so be sure to ask for a Form 18 or go to the North Carolina Industrial Commission website to download the form. This form gives notice to the Industrial Commission that you have a claim and is very important. If you are concerned about what to put on the form or how to do it, you should probably consult an attorney to see if you want to retain an attorney.

What if I try to tough it out and do not get better? What happens to my claim?

Not immediately reporting a work accident (or as soon as possible) can have significant repercussions for an injured employee, including lack of medical treatment and disability benefits. Let’s look at how trying to be tough can make things challenging for your workers’ compensation claim if you later need benefits.

Example: What about Bob?

Bob has worked at one of the furniture companies in the Hickory, North Carolina area for ten years. He’s proud of his work ethic and that he’s rarely missed a day due to being sick in his long time working for the company. It’s the end of a long week, and Bob has been pulling a lot of overtime. Right before his day is over, the lathe machine he is operating malfunctions. As Bob is trying to fix the issue, his shirt gets caught in the machine. As he tugs his shirt to free himself, he falls backward onto the concrete floor. Embarrassed, he gets up, red-faced, worried about whether a co-worker saw his accident. His back is excruciating, but it’s Friday, and Bob decides he will rest his back and be better by Monday. Unfortunately, his back is even worse on Monday, and he feels burning pain down both legs. Bob tries to work as usual but cannot do it. He uses several sick days, but his back worsens, so three weeks after the accident, Bob’s wife convinces him that he needs to go to a doctor.

Bob finally goes to his supervisor and tells him he got hurt on the job and needs to see a doctor. The supervisor asks why Bob never said anything when he fell because Bob knows company policy is to report an injury immediately. The supervisor takes the report and sends him to urgent care, where he’s told to see a specialist. A spine doctor tells him he needs an MRI because he may have injured a disc, and he’s written out of work. But the insurance company then denies Bob’s claim because he failed to give timely notice, arguing he did not get hurt at work. Now Bob cannot work, needs an MRI and possible treatment with a specialist, but has no health insurance. He can ask for a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission to fight the denial of his claim, but it won’t be a quick process. While workers’ compensation insurance companies like to find reasons to deny a claim, here by his inaction right after the accident, Bob has provided the adjuster with a clear – if untrue – reason to deny the claim. Bob may well win in the end, but it will be a long, complex process during which he may not get treatment or earn wages.

Injured workers should always report an injury, even if it makes them feel weak or might even ruin a company safety program tracking the number of days since the last accident at the workplace. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be strong and keep working. Reporting an injury will not prevent an injured worker from trying to do just that if possible, but not reporting is just choosing not to protect oneself. Report an injury and get checked out, even if it is inconvenient and you think you are not severely hurt. Rest assured, insurance companies and many employers will not be worried about protecting injured workers, even those who try to “tough it out” like Bob. If you need help with your work injury case, our experienced attorneys in Hickory, NC are here to help.

120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

 

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120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Concord, NC 28025

Phone: (704) 787-9419
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Hickory Injury Lawyers & Attorneys at Law

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Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

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STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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