Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Helping White Collar Workers

Helping office workers secure the benefits they need when injured on-the-job

Workers’ compensation claims are often associated with injuries sustained in the course of dangerous workplace activities that often occur in the manufacturing, construction, and firefighting industries, for example. While many work injuries do take place in these industries, individuals who are employed at white collar office jobs in North Carolina are also susceptible to sustaining debilitating injuries in the workplace – and they likewise, are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Although some workplace injuries are obvious when they occur, others such as carpal tunnel syndrome may take several years to fully develop. In these cases it may be difficult to secure a fair workers’ compensation settlement from your employer. Regardless of the type of injury or illness you have developed from your white collar office job duties, our experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys at Warren & Kallianos are here to help you secure the maximum benefit you are owed.

Most Common White Collar Worker Injuries in North Carolina

White collar workers often perform job duties within an office environment – this may be at a local small office, corporate headquarters, or in a financial district. Many of these individuals are formally trained and highly skilled professionals. White collar employees such as bankers, accountants, real estate agents, attorneys, architects, and engineers provide professional services to clients that can include businesses, large corporations, and government agencies.

Office workplaces pose a unique and specific set of risks to workers as opposed to other forms of employment. For instance, some white collar office workers carry out their duties in a seated position most of the day while talking on the phone and/or typing on a computer. This position and activity can lead to serious ergonomic injuries such as repetitive stress injuries, as well as painful back and neck injuries.

Other office injuries include developing occupational diseases, becoming sick from poor ventilation, and trips, slips, and falls. Some of these injuries, depending on their severity, can cause you to miss time from work. The range of possible white collar workplace injuries vary from instant acute trauma to a slowly developing injury over time.

Some of the most common injuries sustained by office workers include:

• Slip and fall injuries. These injuries are often caused by wet and slippery surfaces. Office clutter can also lead to tripping hazards and falls. Of course, falls can lead to broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and serious head injuries.
• Car accidents while performing work-related duties. Office workers sometimes run errands for their company or make longer trips for business purposes. If, while performing your job duties, you were injured in a car crash, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation.
• Lifting injuries. Office work sometimes involves lifting heavy objects such as computer equipment, heavy work supplies, filing cabinets, and furniture. These activities can place significant strain on the neck, back, and shoulders, and lead to injury.
• Blunt force trauma injuries. Although sudden impact injuries occur more often in industrial and construction settings, these injuries can also take place in relatively quiet office settings. As an example, a worker may suffer a blunt force trauma when an object falls from the top of a shelf and impacts his or her head. In some severe cases, individuals can sustain traumatic brain injuries from these incidents.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for North Carolina White Collar Workers

If you are injured at work and need time to recover from your injuries, there are several types of workers’ compensation benefits available to you in North Carolina. It is important to understand that you are not required to prove negligence on the part of your employer or a coworker when you file for benefits. There is no need to fear filing for these benefits – it is your right under the law to obtain compensation for the consequences of your injuries. When you collect workers’ compensation, you are at the same time agreeing not to file a lawsuit against your employer. You are simply claiming the benefits owed to you under North Carolina law.

North Carolina provides for the following workers’ comp benefits:

• Reimbursement for medical costs. These include office visits, medications, testing, and other types of treatment and care for your on-the-job illness or injury.
• Lost work time weekly benefits. You are eligible to receive weekly compensation if you are absent from work for more than seven days. The level of compensation is two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a designated maximum amount based on the year of injury. If you are unable to work for more than 21 days, you may have access to benefits for the first seven days plus the additional days you are unable to work. These benefits are available until you are able to come back to work.
• Reimbursement for sick travel. If the round-trip to access medical care for your injuries is 20 miles or more, your company’s workers’ compensation plan should have you covered for this mileage.
• Benefits for permanent, partial, or total disability. You are eligible for these benefits if you are either partially or totally disabled, even after you have obtained a maximum medical improvement status from your doctors, meaning they do not expect your condition to improve.

If a family member dies in a workplace accident, you may also have access to death benefits through their workers’ compensation benefits package. An experienced workers’ comp attorney can help you understand other types of benefits that may be available to you under the law.

Speak to a Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Attorney About Your Office Workplace Accident

There are unique risks and hazards to working in an office. If you have suffered an on-the-job injury, you have the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits through your employer. Our experienced Charlotte lawyers at Warren & Kallianos can apply their more than 50 years of combined legal experience to help you secure the benefits to which you are entitled. To arrange a free, initial consultation about your case, please call us today at 704-377-7777 or fill out our contact form.