Being the victim of an on-the-job injury can leave a person feeling pain, confusion, depression and stress—but it doesn’t have to be this way. Talking about your situation with a trained workers’ compensation attorney can help shed light on your situation and help you through this difficult part of your life. Our attorneys at the Wilder Pantazis Law Group have guided hundreds of injured workers like you through their workers’ compensation troubles.
Many of us know a family member, spouse or friend who was injured on the job, and we’ve seen how they suffered yet recuperated, both physically and financially. Subconsciously, we think to ourselves, This would never happen to me. But when a workplace injury sidelines your livelihood and career, you might be shocked that it happened and unsure of your next steps.
Don’t hesitate to talk with our knowledgeable attorneys. We have the background and experience to get you the medical care and financial assistance you’ve worked your whole life to earn. When you’re hurt, you need to know your options. But first, get yourself checked out by a doctor or visit an emergency room so that you can start your recovery process. Next, schedule your free consultation with us.
Our work injury attorneys know the “ins and outs” of workers’ compensation law in North and South Carolina. If you’ve been hurt on the job and need help, contact us today. Your first consultation is free, and that alone can help put your mind at ease. Let us fight for you, so that you can concentrate on healing and recovering. Remember, you have options, guaranteed by law—and we can explain what they are.
Visit our law firm near Davidson, NC
Address
3501 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours
9:00am - 5:00pm (M-F)
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Our law office is located less than 25 miles from downtown Davidson, in the Echo Hills area of Charlotte.
- Take I-77 south to I-277
- Take US-74 East and exit onto Briar Creek Rd.
- Turn left in just under a mile onto Monroe Rd.
- The law office will be on the left hand side.
Legal advice from an experienced North Carolina lawyer
I’m very proud of the work our firm does to help people get their lives back on track. I’ve seen a wide variety of cases and injuries, and I’m confident we can find a solution that works for you.” – Attorney Beau Wilder
A brief guide to workers’ compensation in Davidson
Don’t let a workplace injury sideline you—there’s no need to feel helpless. Our attorneys fully understand how the workers’ compensation system functions, and we can easily and simply explain the next best steps in your recovery journey.
Davidson, NC workers’ compensation laws
According to North Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act, any business that employs at least 3 or more employees—even those operating as sole proprietorships, corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs)—must purchase and at all times carry workers’ compensation insurance.
There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule, such as employees of railroads, “casual employees” who are not working in the usual course of trade, business or occupation of the employer, domestic workers directly employed by the household, most farm laborers and federal government employees. In many of those cases, there are different rules injured workers follow to obtain compensation, so it’s doubly important to consult with a knowledgeable work injury attorney.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations is the time limit set on work injury claims, and it’s the same in both North and South Carolina. Injured employees have 2 years from the date of the injury to file for workers’ compensation benefits. But—and this is important—employees only have 30 days to notify their employer when they sustain an on-the-job injury.
Any delay whatsoever in filing your claim can be, and often is, viewed skeptically by the insurance company or your employer. Building a strong case on your behalf takes time and effort. The sooner you can consult with our experienced attorneys about your case, the better. In the meantime, check out our workers’ compensation attorney guide to injured workers’ rights and benefits.
Types of damages available
There are a number of ways an injured worker can be compensated for their work-related injury or illness. Here are a few of the most common types of compensation available to most injured workers in Davidson:
- Lost wages. Employees who qualify for workers’ compensation benefits can expect two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum rate that changes regularly based on inflation.
- Medical reimbursement. Qualified employees will have medical expenses and treatments covered, as well as any travel that’s further than 20 miles round trip at the rate of 54 cents per mile (as of 2016).
- Disability. You may be entitled to benefits (financial and medical) if you are unable to heal sufficiently enough to return to work.
- Vocational rehabilitation. If your injury or illness is so debilitating that you can’t return to your old job or are earning less income as a result, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.
- Death benefits. If a loved one passed away due to a fatal workplace accident or job-related illness, then their surviving spouse, children and other family members may have access to wrongful death benefits, including two-thirds of the deceased’s pre-injury average weekly wage for 500 weeks, in addition to funeral and burial expenses totaling up to $10,000.
What to do following a workplace accident in Davidson
When you really get hurt badly at work, you’ll probably know. If your injury is severe enough, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Some work-related injuries, though serious, happen over time from constant repetitive motion and an emergency room visit might not be needed in those instances. But if you are in immediate distress, don’t hesitate to call 911 or go to the emergency room.
The next step in the process is to report your injury to your boss. Notify your manager or supervisor as soon as possible. Starting a paper trail is also key to securing your workers’ compensation benefits, so put the employer notification in writing. Telling a coworker about your injury is enough, you must notify someone who is responsible for your employment. If you wait more than 30 days to report your injury to your employer, you could lose out on the ability to receive full benefits.
Next, get a list from your employer of approved doctors (or “panel of physicians”) that you are allowed to visit. If you refuse to use the doctors or specialists on the list and proceed to use your own doctor, then understand that your employer and their insurance company may use that as an excuse to deny coverage.
When you’ve enlisted our help, we’ll ask your employer for copies of all documents they have filed regarding your case or on your behalf, including a written report of the incident. If they will not write one, we can help you complete one. We can also help you correctly complete and submit Form 18 with the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
Keep your attorney and employer in the loop at every step of the process. If your doctor issues a stay-at-home order, excuses you from work or gives restrictions on the type of work you can perform, ask for this in writing and notify your legal counsel immediately. We can verify that your employer’s insurance company has been properly notified and a claim started, and we’ll speak directly with the insurance adjuster to negotiate on your behalf.
Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in your state ensures you receive proper treatment for your injuries and full compensation for lost wages.
About Davidson, North Carolina
Located on the shores of Lake Norman in Mecklenburg County, Davidson was founded in 1837, around the time when the Presbyterian Davidson College was established. The town was named for a local Revolutionary War hero, Brigadier General William Lee Davidson, and the land for Davidson College was donated by his estate. Davidson was a cousin of Col. William Davidson, the first state senator elected to represent North Carolina from Buncombe County. The creation of the college greatly influenced the growth in and around Davidson as many jobs were tied to the institution.
A railroad was built and connected the town to the rest of the Piedmont in the mid-to-late 19th century and agriculture was a huge part of the local economy. The arrival of the railroad made Davidson a shipping point for a variety of cash crops, such as cotton and tobacco. As the decades passed and the town and college grew, Davidson’s population reached 500 residents in 1910, climbing to 1,500 by the late 1930s. The area saw huge growth from the 1940s into the 1950s, and again from the 1990s into the 2000s. As of 2019, roughly 13,000 people live in and around Davidson.
Many Davidson residents commute to jobs in Charlotte, which is located 22 miles south of town. Much of the growth Charlotte has seen over the last 30 years has vastly impacted Davidson’s growth, which has a vibrant downtown merchant community.
Davidson has won a variety of awards over the last 20 years for being affordable, walkable and having a historic Main Street. A few famous faces who called Davidson home include NBA player Steph Curry, Internet personalities and brothers Hayes and Nash Grier, their other brother, Will Grier, an NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, American football player and coach Gene McEver, IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden, Major League Baseball pitcher John Candelaria and artist Elizabeth Bradford.
Top employers and industries in Davidson, NC
A few of the largest or best-known employers in and around Davidson include the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system, with more than 19,000 employees, Ingersoll-Rand, located in Davidson with 1,600 employees, Huntersville’s McGuire Nuclear Station with 1,200 employees, Davidson College with 750 employees, MSC Industrial District in Davidson with about 600 employees, and Interline Brands with more than 100 employees.
The town of Davidson itself employs about 75 people, and just 6 miles to the south, the town of Huntersville is home to dozens of large and medium-sized businesses, such as Metrolina Greenhouses (650 employees), Novant Health (700 employees), Rubbermaid (400 employees), Pactiv Corp (300 employees), GM Financial and Walmart (about 300 employees each), Forbo Sielgling, LCC (280 employees), SAERTEX USA (200 employees) and Irwin Tools with about 200 employees.
Local resources for Davidson, NC residents
Official government websites
Local legal resources
Mecklenburg County Courts
832 E Fourth St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 686-0400
North Carolina Industrial Commission
430 N Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 716-1700
North Carolina Bar Association
8000 Weston Pkwy
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 677-0561
Local community resources
Town of Davidson Police Department
216 S Main St.
Davidson, NC 28036
(704) 892-5131
Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
700 E 4th St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 336-8100
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
P.O. Box 30035
Charlotte, NC 28230-0035
(980) 343-3000
Davidson Public Library
119 S Main St.
Davidson, NC 28036
(704) 416-4000
Chamber of Commerce for Huntersville, Davidson & Cornelius
403 N Old Statesville Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 493-7113
Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce
19900 W Catawba Ave., Suite 101
Cornelius, NC 28031
(704) 892-1922
Food delivery services
Gas stations
