Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Near Statesville, NC

Suffering an on-the-job work injury in North Carolina, particularly in or around Statesville, can mean you require urgent medical and financial assistance. Injured North Carolinians like you regularly turn to the Wilder Pantazis Law Group to help them with their workers’ compensation case. Don’t try to take on your employer or the state on your own. Talk with one of our knowledgeable workers’ comp attorneys today. Your first consultation is free and you don’t pay a dime until we’ve sorted out your situation.

Our attorneys have worked on behalf of injured workers for decades, and we know how to help secure the benefits you’ve worked so hard for. We aim to help you recover physically, mentally and financially. We’ll work hand-in-hand with you and other experts in the field of workers’ compensation to deliver the best possible results. Our stellar reputation extends throughout North and South Carolina.

If you’ve hurt your leg, back or another body part while working, contact us immediately so that we can help you begin your healing journey while also protecting your legal rights.

Guide to workplace accidents in Statesville, NC

Being diagnosed with an occupational illness or suffering from a serious workplace injury doesn’t have to leave you feeling helpless and alone. Help is only an email or phone call away. Until then, we invite you to learn more about some important workers’ compensation laws, deadlines and benefits available.

What to do following a workplace accident in Statesville

The first thing you should do if you’re seriously hurt on the job is to seek out medical attention as soon as possible. Some workplace injuries occur gradually over time, usually from constant repetitive motion. In such cases, an emergency doctor’s visit might not be needed. But if you have any doubts or the pain is too much, call 911.

Once your medical condition has stabilized, go through the following steps:

1. Report your injury to your manager or supervisor. Starting a paper trail is key to securing the maximum workers’ compensation benefits available to you. Put the notification in writing. Don’t assume that telling a coworker about the injury is enough. If you wait more than 30 days to report the injury, you could lose your ability to receive full benefits forever.
2. Get a list of approved doctors from your employer. If you balk at using the doctors or specialists on the list your employer provides (referred to as the “panel of physicians”) and you proceed to use your own doctor, understand that your employer and their insurance company may use that as an excuse to deny you compensation.
3. Submit the proper paperwork to the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Start by printing Form 18 and submit the completed form to forms@ic.nc.gov. (Further details and a step-by-step description of the process necessary to complete can be found here.) As you begin this process, understand that it’s wise to reach out to an experienced local attorney so that you can bring their knowledge to bear in your case.
4. Document the claim. Ask your employer for copies of all documents they have filed regarding your claim or on your behalf. Make certain you’ve made a copy of the Form 18 and ask your supervisor or manager for a written report on the incident. If they will not write one, you should.
5. Update your employer. Keep your 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 manager immediately.
6. Check with the insurance company. Verify that your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company has been notified and a claim started. Get the name and phone number of the insurance company from whomever handles your workplace HR office. If possible, get the name of the person who is handling your claim. This person is the adjuster, and you are allowed to speak directly with that person.
7. Consult an attorney. Lastly, speak with an attorney about your injuries and predicament. Many attorneys charge no fees until they’ve helped you recover the full workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. Here at the Wilder Pantazis Law Group, initial consultations are free, too! We’ve helped thousands of injured workers overcome a variety of injuries and obstacles so that you can recover physically and financially.

About Statesville, North Carolina

The town of Statesville was officially founded in 1789. Settlers in the area congregated at a log cabin located in the center of town, which is now the First Presbyterian Church.

Before 1789, the settlement was called Fourth Creek, named after a stream that ran to the north of town. A frontier fort was built in 1755, to which soldiers were assigned during the French and Indian War. The year before Statesville was founded, the North Carolina state legislature divided up Rowan County. The new county that housed Statesville was named “Iredell,” after James Iredell, a justice on the Supreme Court during George Washington’s presidency.

When the 1800 census was taken, Statesville was found to have 95 residents—68 free people and 27 slaves. Around 1833, railroad tracks were laid to connect the area containing Statesville (called the Piedmont) to other cities and towns along a northeast/southwest direction. Twenty years later, Statesville grew larger as farmers grew their cash crop: tobacco.

Nowadays, more than 25,000 people call Statesville home, according to the 2010 consensus, and the area continues to boom as part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. Statesville has a daily newspaper called the Statesville Record & Landmark, and 2 local radio stations (WAME 92.9 FM and WSIC 100.7).

Local resources for Statesville, NC residents