Charlotte Airport Employee Workers Compensation Attorney

Airports are critical components of the transportation network of the United States. Airport workers often face significant risks and challenges at work. Many suffer injuries on the job that may require extensive recovery times. If you are an airport employee in North Carolina and recently suffered any type of workplace injury, you likely have cause to file a workers’ compensation claim. The workers’ compensation system exists to provide financial relief to injured workers, ensuring they receive the medical care they need to recover, as well as coverage for lost income during recovery.

Attorney Bob Bollinger and the team at the Bollinger Law Firm, PC have years of experience handling a wide range of workers’ compensation cases on behalf of clients throughout North Carolina. We understand that navigating the workers’ compensation claim process is often challenging, and an injured airport worker is likely to face several challenges when seeking compensation for their injury. Our goal is to provide the meticulous legal counsel you need to approach your claim with confidence and peace of mind.

Why Do I Need a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

It is technically possible to file your workers’ compensation claim on your own without legal representation, but doing so can be incredibly difficult. If you are already struggling with a painful recovery from an injury at work, you would be making an already challenging situation even more stressful by attempting to handle your claim on your own. Every North Carolina employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance, and that means you will need to interact with your employer’s insurance carrier to secure the benefits you need after your workplace injury.

An experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer can help you prepare for each stage of your case so you can make more informed decisions. For example, you must notify your employer of your injury within 30 days to file a workers’ compensation claim, and your employer has 14 days to submit a response to the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). The NCIC is responsible for tracking workers’ compensation claims and may become involved in disputes regarding workers’ compensation benefits. You will need to provide a statement to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, and the insurance adjuster assigned to your case will determine your eligibility for benefits.

Unfortunately, many injured airport workers encounter significant delays in the handling of their claims, and others face unfair denials of their claims for benefits. Insurance companies tend to look for any reasons they can find to reduce settlement amounts or outright deny claims. If you want the best chance of maximizing your recovery after an injury at work, you need an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney to assist you with your claim.

What Airport Injuries Can Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

An airport can be a dangerous place to work in many ways. Even airport workers who perform job duties that appear minimally physically demanding can develop medical conditions from repetitive tasks. Some of the most commonly reported injuries among airport workers in North Carolina include:

• Repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome from daily typing and soft tissue degeneration from repetitive motions, such as lifting and moving luggage.
• Acute back injuries. An employee may bend and lift something and feel a “pop” in their back, which may indicate a herniated or bulging spinal disc.
• Soft tissue damage. Some airport workers, like baggage handlers and maintenance personnel, need to perform physically demanding tasks and can suffer strains, sprains, and other soft tissue damage that can be incredibly painful and debilitating.
• Severe injuries from accidents. Working in an airport often means working with or near various types of heavy equipment, including conveyor systems, forklifts, baggage towing carts, and more. When accidents involving heavy equipment occur, affected workers could suffer broken bones, crushing injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.
• Acquired medical conditions. Some airport workers may need to consistently use protective personal equipment and other safety devices due to their working conditions. Hearing loss, visual impairment, and illness from exposure to certain chemicals can all potentially lead to debilitating medical conditions.

There are several ways airport workers might be injured at work, and whenever an injury occurs at work, the affected employee has the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. The amount of benefits they receive and the time their benefits continue to hinge on the severity of their injuries and whether they face long-term or permanent complications because of them.

How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Determined in North Carolina?

An injured airport worker can potentially qualify for different types of workers’ compensation benefits based on the nature of their injury. Every injured worker has the right to receive full compensation for medical expenses necessary for healing from their injury and managing their symptoms. Workers’ compensation covers hospital treatment, prescription costs, and even ongoing care costs and “attendant care” when a workplace injury is severe enough to require ongoing in-home medical care.

Workers’ compensation also provides disability benefits while the claimant is unable to work. It’s possible to qualify for either total or partial disability benefits based on the severity of the claimant’s injury, and these benefits may be awarded on a permanent or temporary basis:

• Temporary total disability benefits are awarded when a claimant cannot work at all until they recover.
• Temporary partial disability benefits are suitable when a claimant can resume work but cannot earn as much income due to their injury.
• Permanent partial disability benefits can be awarded for up to 500 weeks and apply when a claimant can return to work but cannot resume their previous position.
• Permanent total disability benefits are only awarded when a claimant cannot work at all due to the severity of their injury.

The workers’ compensation laws of North Carolina generally prohibit injured workers from suing their employers for workplace injuries, but some injured airport workers may have grounds to file third-party civil claims against individuals outside of work that bears liability for their damages. Third-party claims can potentially help injured workers secure compensation for losses that workers’ compensation insurance coverage won’t cover.

Ultimately, airport workers face significant risks at work and deserve appropriate compensation when they suffer workplace injuries. If you or a loved one recently suffered a workplace injury while working in a North Carolina airport, Bollinger Law Firm, PC can provide the compassionate legal counsel you need to navigate the workers’ compensation claim system with confidence. Contact us today and schedule a consultation with a North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.