If you experience an injury at work, your employer’s workers’ compensation policy will cover your medical bills and other expenses. This type of coverage also applies to injuries associated with workplace exposures.
Explore the details of the no-fault workers’ compensation program in North Carolina if you or a loved one cannot work because of a job-based injury or illness.
Reporting your injury
You must tell your employer about the illness or injury with 30 days of the incident or diagnosis. Provide detailed information in writing. You must also file state claim Form 18 within two years of the incident or risk losing eligibility for benefits.
Seeking medical care
North Carolina requires injured workers to see the health care provider designated by the employer or the employer’s insurance plan. You can request to change health care providers in writing, but you may not receive compensation for your medical bills from the new provider without authorization. You must also request authorization to receive care from a chiropractor for more than 20 visits.
Receiving disability benefits
If your doctor says you cannot work because of the illness or injury, you may be eligible for temporary total disability or permanent total or partial disability. TTD payments total about two-thirds of your average weekly wage at the time of the injury or illness and can last up to 500 weeks. At that point, your doctor may request a transition to permanent disability if you cannot return to your job.
You have the right to appeal decisions about your workers’ compensation benefits if you got hurt or become seriously ill at work.