Healthcare Workers’ Compensation in North and South Carolina

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Healthcare Workers’ Compensation in North and South Carolina

Whether you're a nurse in Charlotte or a physician in Charleston, working in healthcare comes with a unique set of challenges. In North Carolina and South Carolina, workplace injuries are all too common in the healthcare industry. With major healthcare facilities like Prisma Health, Novant Health, and Atrium Health that employ thousands throughout the Carolinas, there is ample opportunity for workers to encounter injury. Healthcare workers face a range of risks and hazards on the job, from exposure to infectious diseases to the physical strain of lifting and moving patients. Fortunately, workers' compensation provides a safety net for these professionals, helping to ensure they have the support and resources they need to recover from injuries or illnesses sustained on the job. That's where a workers' compensation lawyer can help. At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we have years of experience representing healthcare workers in North and South Carolina who have been injured at work. Our team of skilled lawyers is dedicated to helping injured workers obtain the compensation they deserve and ensuring their rights are protected throughout the claims process. If you are an injured healthcare worker, contact our workers' compensation attorneys today for a free consultation.

What's On This Page

Injury Statistics for Healthcare Workers in North and South Carolina

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare workers in North and South Carolina experience injuries or illnesses at a higher rate than many other occupations across the states. In 2019, there were nearly 6,000 reported cases of nonfatal occupational injuries and illness among healthcare workers in each of the Carolinas, resulting in a combined  injury rate of 6.1 per 100 full-time employees. This rate is significantly higher than the overall nonfatal injury and illness rate of 3.9 across all industries in North Carolina and 4.6 across South Carolina as a whole.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that ambulatory healthcare services—which include physician offices, hospitals, and other outpatient care centers—experienced 6,581 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in North Carolina in 2019. This was the highest among all industry groups in the state, with an injury rate of 8.7 per 100 full-time workers. In South Carolina, ambulatory healthcare services reported 4,605 nonfatal cases of occupational injuries and illnesses in 2019, with a rate of 5.6 per 100 full-time employees—significantly higher than the state’s overall nonfatal injury and illness rate of 4.6. 

Common Accidents and Injuries for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers in North and South Carolina are at an increased risk of injuries and illnesses due to the hazardous nature of their work. Common accidents and injuries among healthcare professionals include the following:

  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Overexertion from lifting or moving patients and equipment
  • Exposure to infectious diseases like hepatitis B or HIV/AIDS
  • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by repetitive motions such as typing on a computer for long periods
  • Contact dermatitis resulting from frequent use of cleaning agents or latex gloves
  • Physical violence inflicted by patients/visitors

Employers’ Duty to Keep Workers Safe

In North and South Carolina, employers have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their workers. This responsibility includes providing a safe working environment with appropriate safeguards against potential hazards, implementing regular safety training for employees, and offering prompt medical care for any work-related injuries or illnesses. 

Workers Compensation Insurance Requirements for Employers

North and South Carolina both have workers’ compensation insurance requirements for employers. Employers with three or more employees in North Carolina, and four or more employees in South Carolina, must carry workers’ compensation insurance, which covers medical bills, lost wages, and other costs related to an employee’s injury or illness during their employment. An employer that does not have a valid workers comp insurance policymay be held personally liable for any medical costs and other damages related to the employee’s injury or illness.

If you are an employer with three or more employees, we advise you to carry workers’ compensation coverage. A workers comp policy will help protect you from liability in the event of an employee injury or illness and ensure employees will be appropriately cared for in the event of an accident.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Healthcare Workers in North and South Carolina

Fortunately, healthcare workers in North and South Carolina are eligible to receive workers’ comp benefits if they suffer a work-related injury or illness. These benefits provide financial assistance to cover medical expenses related to the treatment of their injuries or illnesses as well as lost wages due to time off work. An injured healthcare worker may be entitled to the following benefits:

  • Medical coverage for treatment of injuries/illnesses
  • Wage replacement, paid at the injured worker’s compensation rate, during the recovery period
  • Vocational rehabilitation services if the employee is unable to return to the previous job
  • Permanent disability payments if the employee is unable to return to any employment
  • Death benefits for surviving family members in case of death resulting from workplace injury/illness

With access to workers’ compensation benefits, healthcare professionals can rest assured that they will have the resources and support needed to recover from any injuries or illnesses sustained on the job.

What to Do If You’re Hurt as a Healthcare Professional in North and South Carolina

If you are a healthcare professional in North or South Carolina who has been injured on the job, there are several steps that must be taken to ensure that you receive the workers’ compensation benefits for which you are eligible.

Report the Injury to Your Employer

This is a necessary step in order to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Be sure to provide as many details about the accident and your injuries as possible when filing your report. By doing this, it will provide evidence for a potential claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

Seek medical attention right away

Seeking medical treatment ensures that your well-being is taken care of first and foremost. It also ensures that you will receive the necessary treatment to help you recover from your injury. 

Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Having a knowledgeable legal advocate on your side can help ensure that you receive all the benefits to which you are entitled, including medical coverage and wage replacement.

Follow Your Doctor’s Orders

It is crucial to follow the instructions of your doctor in order to ensure that you make a full recovery and are able to return to work as quickly as possible. This will also help protect your claim for workers’ compensation benefits should you need them. If you are found not to be following the doctor’s orders, you may be jeopardizing your claim.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Your attorney can help you with this step, which involves providing detailed information about your accident and injuries in order to prove eligibility for benefits. Your employer should have workers’ compensation insurance in place to cover any claims.

Although you can go at it alone, it is strongly recommended that you seek the counsel of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney if you are injured in a work-related accident. With the assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney, healthcare professionals in these states can be sure that they will receive all the benefits for which they are eligible and get back to work with confidence.

Reasons a Workers’ Comp Claim Might Be Denied

Unfortunately, workers’ compensation claims are not always accepted. There are a number of reasons why a claim for benefits may be denied. It is important to understand the potential pitfalls that could lead to your claim being rejected so you can take steps to avoid them. Here are some of the most common reasons a workers’ comp claim might be denied:

  • Insufficient evidence
  • Failure to report the injury
  • Errors in filing paperwork
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Intentional self-inflicted injury
  • Substance abuse

How Do I File an Appeal if My Workers’ Comp Claim is Denied?

If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, you have the right to have your case heard . You can request a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission or the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. This is to have a Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner decide the compensability of your claim. 

The process should be taken seriously, and it is wise to enlist the help of a workers’ compensation attorney who can provide guidance and advice on the process. An attorney can provide assistance throughout the entire workers’ compensation process and ensure that all paperwork is completed correctly. Additionally, they can represent you in any hearings or appeals should they be necessary.

When requesting a hearing after a denied workers’ comp claim, it is important to have your evidence organized and ready to present so that you can demonstrate the validity of your claim. This includes obtaining any medical records, employment documents, and witness statements that support your case. A lawyer can help you prepare a compelling argument so that you are able to get the compensation you deserve.

How Can an Attorney Help with a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Having a workers’ compensation attorney on your side can make all the difference when filing a claim for benefits. They can provide guidance and advice throughout the entire process, ensuring that all paperwork is completed correctly while also representing you in any hearings or appeals should they be necessary. Our lawyers can help with the following:

Filing all necessary paperwork – Your workers’ compensation lawyer can help to ensure that all required paperwork is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner so that there are no delays or denials due to errors made during this process.

Provide evidence of eligibility – Your attorney will gather medical records, employment documents, and witness statements as part of their investigation into your case, which could demonstrate the validity of your claim for benefits if it has been denied.

Representation at hearings – Should an appeal become necessary after a denied claim for benefits, having an experienced lawyer represent you before the North Carolina Industrial Commission or South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission could give you greater confidence as well as increase your chances of success in getting approved for much-needed financial assistance following a work-related injury or illness.

Guidance through every step – From completing forms properly to gathering the evidence needed during appeals, your workers’ compensation lawyer can provide invaluable advice and guidance that can make the process much smoother.

Advice on settlement negotiations – If your claim has been approved, but you are unsatisfied with the amount offered, your attorney can help advise you during any settlement negotiations to ensure that you receive a fair outcome.

By having a knowledgeable lawyer on your side to provide assistance, guidance, and representation throughout the entire workers’ compensation process, you can rest assured that your claim is in good hands.

Workers compensation forms injured on the job and seeking help

Injured on the Job? Let Our North & South Carolina Work Injury Attorneys Fight for You

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we are committed to protecting the rights of injured workers throughout North and South Carolina. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are knowledgeable in all areas of workers’ compensation law and can provide you with the guidance and legal representation you need to get approved for much-needed financial assistance following a work-related injury or illness.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help.

120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

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

130 Church St NE
Concord, NC 28025

Phone: (704) 787-9419
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

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

1348 Ebenezer Rd #103
Rock Hill, SC 29732

Phone: (803) 980-5300
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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News From Our Blog

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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