Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Helping Injured Biotech and Pharma Employees

Protection for researchers and scientists who are injured on the job in North Carolina

North Carolina is a central hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation, research, and development in the U.S. Despite all the precautions put in place, biotech is still a dangerous industry with the ever-present threat of contracting a serious illness or sustaining a life-threatening injury. If you are hurt in a laboratory, medical facility, warehouse, or while transporting items from one place to another, you have the right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys at Warren & Kallianos are dedicated to assisting biotech employees in Charlotte and throughout the state in taking advantage of the best option available going forward after suffering a workplace injury.

The Size of Biotech and Pharma in North Carolina

There is a range of specialties comprising the state’s biotechnology industry, including health informatics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and crop genetic engineering. Consisting of more than 600 companies and over 60,000 workers, the biotech conglomerate in North Carolina has increased by almost 1/3 since 2001. The prospect for an increasing biotech sector in the state is very high as more workers continue to move into the area.

The largest concentration in the nation of Tier 1 research universities is located in North Carolina. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University are positioned within 25 miles of each other and represent a key element in sustaining and fueling a pipeline of biotech and Pharma workers and promoting an innovative business environment along with flourishing industry partnerships in the state.

As the largest research park in the nation, Research Triangle Park (RTP) consists of more than 200 companies and over 50,000 employees who possess specializations in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. This research Center is also home to the state’s First Flight Venture Center, and Biotechnology Center.

In summary, North Carolina is a significant hub of medical, scientific, and technological creation, study, and testing.

Common Injuries for Biotech and Pharma Workers

If you are injured as a worker during the course of your job duties in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical field, you have the right to file a claim for workers compensation benefits. These benefits can cover an array of injuries, including:

• Slips, falls, and trips
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Lifting and bending injuries
• Crushing or amputation injuries from heavy machinery
• Impact from falling objects
• Car and truck accidents while traveling to work sites on company time or making deliveries
• Electrical hazards (due to malfunctioning equipment, shock, or fire)
• Biological hazards (genetically modified agents and microbes)
• Chemical hazards (corrosives, flammables, toxins, and reactants)

Biotechnology workers face some of the common injuries other workers face, but they also are at risk for specific types of injuries associated with the biotech field. Some of these risks include exposure to communicable diseases, viruses, and pathogens as a result of packaging defects, needle pricks, or accidents that occur in compounding facilities.

In addition, biotech workers face a greater risk of toxic exposure due to the close contact they often have with dangerous products and compounds. In fact, an entire workforce can fall ill if compounds or chemicals become airborne or certain safety precautions are not carried out or enforced.

Foreign Biotech/Pharma Workers and International Travel

Each state, including North Carolina, has its own workers’ compensation program that outlines its own set of specific benefits. However, if you were injured outside of the United States or if you are working in Charlotte or anywhere in North Carolina on an H1-B work visa, you still have rights to collect workers’ compensation benefits if you are hurt while performing your job duties.

North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act

The Workers’ Compensation Act in North Carolina serves injured workers by providing for their medical compensation needs in the aftermath of their injuries. The Act also supplies workers with disability benefits which are based on a certain percentage of their average weekly wage – this consists of two-thirds of their wage. Partial disability payments are also available if the authorized treating physician provides a certain rating to the injured worker’s specific body part. Payment is provided based on that rating.

Common Mistakes in Filing an NC Workers’ Compensation Claim

One of the most significant mistakes made by injured workers is their failure to report their claim in a timely manner. In fact, some injured employees continue to work after their injury for days or weeks before reporting their injury. If a claim is made late, it may be denied.

Sometimes injured workers fail to inform their doctors about certain parts of their body that are experiencing pain. If a worker only mentions pain in the shoulder, but fails to mention the pain in their knee, but they include that injured part in their claim, they may face an issue getting the claim approved since the worker did not initially reveal the injury.

North Carolina biotech and pharma workers may also fail to properly fill out the necessary forms with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. This is yet another reason why it is essential to have the services of an experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorney handling your claim from the outset.

Helping Injured Biotech and Pharma Employees in Charlotte and Throughout NC

If you are an injured biotech or pharma worker in North Carolina, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. A Charlotte injury attorney from our team at Warren & Kallianos can help you evaluate your situation and discuss your options going forward to secure financial recovery. To set up a free consultation about your case, call us today at 704-377-7777 or use our contact form to send us a message.