Wilmington Workers Compensation Lawyer

Wilmington Workers Compensation Attorney

When an individual is injured at their place of work in Wilmington, North Carolina, they are often left with more questions than answers. The process of recovery, both physical and financial, can be long and arduous, and securing compensation is vital. Therefore, it is important to speak with a Wilmington workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you navigate every step of the process and do everything in their power to ensure you receive maximum compensation.

At The Sumwalt Group, our team of professional and skilled attorneys has over 50 years of combined experience assisting clients in recovering the benefits they deserve after suffering an on-the-job injury or occupational illness. Hiring an attorney can make a fundamental difference in your case and ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to recover from the harm you have sustained. Without legal help, you could lose out on this compensation.

Just like with any other kind of insurance company, your employer’s insurance provider is not here to help you. In fact, their main objective will be to avoid offering you the compensation you are entitled to. Even if your claim is legitimate and legally valid, they can attempt to minimize the payout you deserve and downplay the severity of your case. At The Sumwalt Group, we can work against these behaviors and secure the benefits you are owed.

Common Injuries Covered by Wilmington Workers’ Compensation

Between 2021 and 2022, the state of North Carolina saw over 57,000 claims filed for workers’ compensation. In 2023, 53% of all claims filed were done so by individuals working in the trades, transportation, healthcare, education, or utilities sectors. Wilmington, the eighth largest city in the state, boasts all these employment avenues, meaning that many of the annual claims filed come from this city.

At The Sumwalt Group, we have extensive experience working with clients who have suffered a wide range of work-related injuries or occupational illnesses. The most common of these include damage to muscles, bones, or joints, carpal tunnel syndrome, or other injuries caused by repetitive motions, and chemical or toxin exposure-related illnesses. However, the most frequently covered injuries in Wilmington include the following.

• Strains: Muscle or tendon strains occur due to repetitive motions, such as lifting heavy objects or maintaining awkward positions for extended periods.
• Lacerations: Poorly maintained tools and machinery, as well as poor lighting conditions, can lead to deep cuts or lacerations in the workplace.
• Contusions: Serious bruising can result from falls or being struck by objects. While minor bruises may not require compensation, swelling and severe pain could indicate more serious conditions.
• Sprains: Ligament tears or stretches often occur due to repetitive lifting, pushing, or pulling of heavy objects, or from awkward body positioning.
• Punctures: Workplace injuries involving sharp objects such as knives, scissors, nails, or broken glass can result in deep puncture wounds.
• Burns: Fires, chemical exposure, and other hazardous conditions can cause severe burns, leading to high medical costs and rehabilitation.
• Occupational illnesses: Exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, and pathogens can lead to respiratory diseases, lung cancer, lymphoma, or infections, particularly for healthcare workers.

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Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available in Wilmington

For those who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses in Wilmington, returning to work may not be an immediate option. Workers’ compensation benefits can help provide financial security during recovery. Depending on the nature and severity of your condition, you may be eligible for the following.

• Medical costs: These costs can include all expenses related to the medical treatment of your injuries or illness, such as all diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, transportation to the emergency room in an ambulance, medical devices, medications, and surgeries.
• Lost wages and disability: If you are unable to return to work for a given period of time because of your work-related injury or illness, you may be able to recover your lost wages. These benefits can include:
  • Temporary total disability: These kinds of benefits can come into play if you have suffered an injury that has left you completely disabled for a certain amount of time. These benefits can cover a percentage of your weekly wage until you are able to return to work or until your condition improves enough that you can work again if you so choose.
  • Temporary partial disability: These benefits can be given out when you have become injured to the point where you can still work despite your injury. This can happen if you need to switch job tasks until your medical condition improves.
  • Permanent total disability: These benefits can come into play should you become totally and permanently disabled due to your work-related injury or illness. In these cases, you have the ability to receive a certain percentage of your weekly wage for the rest of your life.
• Job retraining: In some cases, you may be able to recover benefits that can allow you to seek job retraining in a different sector of work, allowing you to become employed in an area of work that is not affected by the injury or illness you have suffered.
• Death benefits: If a loved one is killed on the job or because of a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to seek death benefits through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. These benefits can include the coverage of any medical costs relating to the injury or illness that caused their death, as well as burial or funeral costs.
• Third-party claims: In certain cases, depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury, you may be able to file a personal injury claim as well as a claim with workers’ compensation. In these cases, you may also be able to seek damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of the enjoyment of life, and punitive damages.

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Speak With a Caring Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Wilmington Today

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job or suffered a work-related illness, the team at The Sumwalt Group is here to help. Contact our offices today to schedule your free consultation and allow us to fight for the benefits you deserve.