Asheville is a bustling, vibrant city in North Carolina, with a relatively low unemployment rate. There are all sorts of jobs available in the city, from offices to warehouses to hospitals to construction. Unfortunately, there is a risk for injury at every occupation and in every industry. When an injury or illness happens, you have the right to compensation.
Workers’ compensation insurance is required for nearly every business in North Carolina. This insurance is designed to protect and provide for workers if they suffer an accidental injury or illness on the job. But if you don’t get the full compensation you deserve for your injury, or your claim is denied outright, you have the right to fight the decision of the insurance company.
At Auger & Auger, we have been helping workers in North Carolina get the compensation they deserve for over 26 years. Our experienced team of attorneys knows the tricks and tactics insurance companies and employers alike use to get out of paying for workers’ injuries, and we know how to help you get the money you deserve.
To speak with an Asheville workers’ compensation lawyer, call us at (828) 222-7649 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How To File For Workers’ Compensation In Asheville
If you suffer an injury or illness at work that is due to your occupation, you have the right to workers’ comp. This includes repetitive motion injuries, lifting injuries, injuries from being in a car wreck while performing your job duties, and more. If you do suffer an injury at work, there are certain steps you should take to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
1. Report The Injury Asap
Your first step is to report your injury or illness to your supervisor. The sooner you tell your supervisor you’re injured, the better. Be sure to also take photos of the area in which you were injured, if possible, and write down the details of what happened so you don’t forget what happened later.
2. Seek Medical Treatment
If your workplace has onsite medical facilities, seek treatment from them as soon as you can. If not, go to your regular doctor or, if it’s an emergency, to the hospital to get treatment. Make sure you tell your doctor exactly what you’re feeling and how you sustained the injury. Having the injury documented by a medical professional will help your claim immensely.
When you’re filling out paperwork for the visit, be sure to note it’s a work-related incident. You may need to call your healthcare provider to point out that detail as well. That way, it gets billed as workers’ compensation, which shouldn’t count against your own insurance.
3. Provide A Written Statement To Your Employer
Next, provide a written statement with the date and time of the injury, as well as a description of what happened, to your employer so they can file for your workers’ comp benefits. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter for your own records as well. You may want to create a PDF of the letter and email it to your employer as well so they can’t claim they never received it.
4. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
This is one of the most important steps you can take. There’s a good chance the insurance company will be combing through your social media and may even hire a private investigator to see if you’re “really injured.” If you aren’t following doctor’s orders or otherwise seem uninjured, your claim will probably get denied.
Contact An Asheville Workers’ Compensation Attorney If Your Claim Is Denied
If your workers’ compensation claim gets denied, don’t worry; many claims get denied at first. The good news is, you can appeal the decision. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Asheville can help you appeal the insurance company’s decision and get the compensation you deserve.
Contact an Asheville workers’ compensation attorney at Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers by calling (828) 222-7649 or by filling out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
