Hickory Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

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Hickory Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

All employers in the Hickory area must cover every employee through a workers’ compensation insurance policy. Injuries at work can have long-term effects on your physical and financial well-being. Workers’ compensation claims can be complicated, however. It’s your job, not your employer’s, to prove a claim. Insurance companies and government agencies having rules and regulations to follow. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get larger settlements. They follow the complex rules and regulations of the insurance companies and the state or North Carolina to make sure your claim doesn’t get denied. As with any type of accident, workplace accidents can have long-term effects on your physical and financial well-being. Learn more about the unique aspects of workers’ compensation claims and how skilled workers’ compensation lawyers in Hickory, NC, can ensure you receive fair compensation.

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What is Workers’ Compensation, and How Does it Work?

Workers’ compensation is as insurance policy that’s required by law. Hickory employers must carry it to protect employees and themselves from expenses related to workplace injuries. This system pays workers who are injured or disabled on the job. Employees who take the negotiated workers’ compensation payment agree not to sue their employers. Payments typically cover medical costs and missed paychecks. Employees don’t receive additional damages for pain and suffering or negligence. The system is designed to protect both employees and employers.

Workers’ compensation benefits are tax-free and the families of employees who have a fatal accident at work can collect workers’ compensation payments.

How Do I Apply/File for Workers’ Compensation in Hickory, NC?

If you’ve been injured at work in Hickory, it’s important to apply and file for workers’ compensation right away. This allows you to receive provisional payments quickly. Employers have 48 hours to notify their insurer of the claim. Workers’ compensation insurance companies must begin making provisional payments within a week of filing. Insurance providers can make provisional payments while investigating the claim.

  • Injured workers first notify their employer of the workplace-related injury.
  • They need to provide documentation showing they’re partly or completely unable to fulfill their work duties.
  • Provisional payments include up to 12 weeks of compensation and up to $7,500 of medical expense coverage.
  • Insurers can challenge the claim within that seven-day window. Reasons include a lack of medical information, lack of proof the injury was work-related, and the injury being reported two or more months after it occurred.
  • Insurance companies have another 21 days to accept or deny a claim.
  • Employers must then accommodate injured staff and provide them with work duties they can perform. Smaller companies in Hickory might be exempt if no suitable work is available.

Workers’ compensation claims can result in larger lump sum or structured settlements in cases of permanent injuries. A Hickory workers’ compensation attorney will know the workers’ rights to pursue a permanent injury claim. Lump sum settlements don’t affect weekly payments or medical allowances from the original claim.

Injured workers seeking lump sums need more thorough medical assessments. They must prove permanent injury of at least 10% to get a lump sum settlement. The maximum amount they can receive is $220,000. Common settlement payouts range from $30,000 to $60,000.

Some instances allow for more compensation by suing an employer for negligence. An attorney will determine whether injured workers can seek additional compensation in cases of employer negligence. Workers’ compensation doesn’t require proving the employer to be at fault, but cases of clear negligence could result in significant settlements of more than $300,000. Being awarded such a claim cancels out workers’ compensation payments.

Can You be Laid Off While on Workers’ Compensation?

If you suspect you were laid off because of your workers’ compensation leave status, contact an attorney as soon as possible. Generally, employees cannot be laid off because of their workers’ compensation. They can, however, be laid off if the company is downsizing, for example. An attorney will review the facts and determine if your employer laid you off illegally. You typically have limited time to claim illegal retaliation in Hickory.

Can You Sue if You Accept Workers’ Compensation?

If you accept workers’ compensation, you generally cannot sue the employer for further damages. An experienced attorney will determine if you should receive more money. Your workers’ compensation might cover mental health issues, for instance, as a medical expense. You might also claim distress in a separate lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, third parties can be sued for pain and suffering.

How Do I Build a Strong Workers’ Compensation Case?

Proof of the injury happening at work rather than being a preexisting condition is key. You’ll need to collect comprehensive documentation, including an official diagnosis and treatment plan, and file it following insurance company guidelines and state laws.

Workers’ compensation cases, like other accident liability cases, must prove liability and include thorough documentation. Documenting circumstances of the injury, especially if the employer did not follow safety and training protocol, is key. Employer negligence isn’t necessary to receive workers’ compensation but could be the key factor in pursuing a lawsuit against the company. As with any legal case, the more information and documentation, the better. Insurance companies can deny or delay work injury claims that aren’t filed properly.

What Happens if you’re Denied Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Hickory?

Getting a denial and appealing the decision is a process for an experienced attorney to handle. Benefits denial can result in lost income and medical payments if you don’t appeal it properly.

If you receive a denial, contact a Hickory workers’ comp attorney right away for legal advice. They will investigate the denial and find ways to appeal. Denials can occur for many reasons:

  • Not reporting the work injury to your supervisor within a few days.
  • Not filing the initial claim within 30 to 90 days.
  • A dispute by your employer.
  • The injury can’t be compensated, such as stress.
  • The injury doesn’t require medical care.
  • There’s not enough evidence to tie the injury to work.

Denial letters should list information about appealing. An appeal could be as easy as correcting the claim or misunderstanding. Appeals in Hickory, North Carolina commonly involve the state agency handling workers’ compensation and require detailed documentation. They might also require additional medical records and examinations or workplace evidence.

When is a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Needed?

Depending on the situation, you may not need an attorney to submit a claim in Hickory, NC. However, workers’ compensation lawyers are skilled negotiators who can guide injured workers through the complex process. The process involves insurance companies, employers, and laws and regulations. Lawyer-negotiated settlements are typically larger.

Employees who seek a claim must prove their injury is related to work. It cannot be a preexisting condition. They must also prove the injury prevents them from doing required work tasks. Attorneys provide sound advice when the injured person feels pressured to settle. An attorney will seek a fair settlement that will provide needed compensation. This allows the injured person to focus on recovering.

However, it is strongly advisable to involve an experienced Hickory worker’s compensation attorney in the case you claim is denied. Lawyers are skilled at handling claims an insurance company tries to deny and it’s important to get the appeal process right.

How Much Does a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Cost?

Like other personal injury lawyers, Hickory workers’ compensation lawyers typically work on a contingency where they only get paid upon successful settlement of a case. Hickory workers’ compensation attorney fees are more regulated than other personal injury cases and are capped at 25% in North Carolina.

Related fees, including attorney fees, investigation costs, court costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses, get taken out of the settlement amount. For workers’ compensation cases, law firm costs include obtaining medical evidence proving the extent of the injury and that it occurred at work. The law firm handling the case processes the settlement check and ensures all parties receive their payments.

What Should I Look For in a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Seek an attorney who has experience handling workers’ compensation cases and negotiating with insurance companies in and around Hickory. Each area of personal injury law requires special knowledge, and workers’ compensation cases are no exception. Seek a workers’ compensation lawyer who will put your needs first and be transparent about your options for seeking compensation, related fees, and timelines

A skilled Hickory workers’ compensation attorney will be able to tell whether the insurance company or your employer is not complying with applicable regulations. They will also ensure you are not misguided into accepting a settlement that is too low or not made aware of your rights. While workers’ compensation is based on no-fault principles where injured workers can receive settlements, employer negligence might allow injured workers to sue their employers and receive a greater settlement.

Seek a workers’ compensation attorney who has specialized experience in workplace accidents. Cases where you can prove employer negligence or where injuries are significant and permanent make retaining an attorney even more important. It allows you to focus on recovery knowing your rights are being protected.

What Settlements Do Workers’ Compensation Claims Bring?

Workers’ comp settlements range from straightforward and quick to complex and drawn-out in the court system. Workers’ comp insurance might begin covering medical bills and lost wages after a claim is filed.

Some denied claims require an appeals process with the insurance company, often argued by an attorney. Insurance companies might assert the injury isn’t completely job-related or the medical condition was preexisting. The appeals process varies depending on the insurance company.

The injured party might negotiate a settlement if they feel compensation is inadequate. Once the parties agree upon an amount, it’s paid out in either a lump sum or over time in a structured settlement with monthly payments.

While personal injury lawsuits can include money for pain and suffering, workers’ compensation cases cover medical bills and lost wages. Filers of workers’ compensation claims don’t have to prove their employer was at fault, but this arrangement by nature limits the damages they can recover. A workers’ compensation claim might, however, cover mental health issues resulting from a work-related accident. Depending on the accident’s circumstances, third parties might be sued for pain and suffering.

Employees also have the option to sue their employers in cases of negligence that lead to permanent injury. Such cases are complex but can yield large settlements.

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Contact a Hickory Workers’ Compensation Attorney for a Free Consultation

An experienced Hickory workers’ compensation lawyer can guide you through the complex and unique insurance company claim rules and North Carolina state laws. To get a successful claim, you must complete and file the proper paperwork following the required regulations and timelines. Third-party involvement in an accident or existing medical conditions make it especially important to hire an experienced attorney. If you are affected by a work-related accident or injury, contact The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor P.C. to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Hickory, North Carolina.

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
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130 Church St NE
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.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

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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