Workers’ Compensation for Office Employees in North Carolina
Office workers are entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured while working. Benefits can include payment of a percentage of lost wages, payment for all reasonable and necessary medical bills, and, in some cases, payment for permanent injury. While office workers don’t necessarily do heavy lifting and moving like construction or industrial workers, they are still susceptible to many types of injuries:
- Falls. Falls in an office setting can occur when workers slip on wet floors, when they climb stairs with loose railings, trip on objects on the floor such as electrical cords, or fall due to poor lighting. Injuries from falls can include broken arms or legs, torn ligaments, muscle pulls, strains and sprains, and even severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage.
- Lifting injuries. Even in an office setting, workers need to lift boxes of files, move furniture, carry merchandise or office equipment, and make other movements where a heavy load is involved. If workers don’t lift or move these items properly (and even when they do use caution), they can suffer back, neck, and other types of injuries.
- Musculoskeletal injuries. Workers can easily suffer musculoskeletal injuries due to bad posture and bad office furniture and equipment. Repetitive stress injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome are quite common especially with computer use. Properly positioning monitors and equipment, putting desks at the proper height, and using chairs that support the back can help reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries.
- Workplace violence. Sadly, disgruntled workers and unhappy vendors sometimes get into fights, or think that taking matters into their own hands is a solution. Office workers who are struck or hit at work have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim.
- Vehicle accidents. Workers who are on the road making sales or who run errands for the boss can be killed or suffer injuries that require long-term care. If the vehicle accident occurs during the course and scope of the worker’s employment, the employee can claim work injury benefits.
Other office workplace accidents include objects that fall from heights and electrical accidents.
Workers who are injured while doing their job, or suffer an occupational illness as a result of their job duties, are not required to prove fault. Workers have the right to return to work when they are physical able to and not before they can do their old job or new work. If you suffered a workplace injury, the experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers at Warren & Kallianos, PLLC can help you get the wage loss and medical benefits you deserve. We represent injured workers throughout the state. For help now, call 704-275-5593, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Meta description. Office work poses risks, too. If you sustain an injury in your office job, call the workers’ compensation lawyers of Warren & Kallianos, PLLC for help.
At Warren & Kallianos, we believe in the importance of working directly with our attorneys, Jeff Warren and Chris Kallianos. When you work with our firm, Jeff and Chris are always accessible to you throughout the progress of your case.
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