Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Monroe, North Carolina

Talk with a knowledgeable attorney near Monroe to learn about your workers’ compensation benefits.

Suffering a workplace injury can not only be physically debilitating but mentally and financially devastating as well. Sometimes the incident is sudden—one moment you’re doing your job when a forklift runs over your foot, or you twist funny and your back gives out. Other times the injury is sustained over years of repetitive motion. No one expects or wants their working life and career to be cut short unexpectedly.

Here at Wilder Pantazis Law Group, we know you are hurting and longing for life to return to normal. That’s why we will bring decades of legal experience to bear on your behalf so that we can work to secure every benefit you’ve worked a lifetime to earn. North Carolina workers’ compensation law is complex, but with us working on your behalf you’re more likely to secure a better, more positive outcome.

Our Monroe workers’ compensation attorneys understand the law inside and out, and we know how to leverage local statutes to benefit our clients. A serious work-related injury can change your life forever—and even end it. Contact our North Carolina attorneys today to talk about your options. Your first consultation is free and we don’t collect a dime until you do. When experience counts, you can count on us.

What to do after a workplace accident in Monroe (8 steps)

1. Seek medical attention. The first step to take is to seek medical treatment (if it is warranted). Some workplace injuries occur over time from constant repetitive motion and you might not require an emergency doctor’s visit. But if you are in immediate distress and serious pain, call 911.
2. Notify your employer (in writing). Next, report your injury to your manager or supervisor. Starting a paper trail is key to securing your workers’ compensation benefits, so put the notification in writing. Simply telling a coworker about the injury isn’t enough. If you wait more than 30 days to report the injury, you could lose out on the ability to receive full benefits.
3. Visit an approved doctor. Get a list of approved doctors (or “panel of physicians”) from your employer to find out what doctors you are allowed to visit. If you balk at using the doctors or specialists on the list and proceed to use your own doctor, then your employer and their insurance company may use that as an excuse to deny you workers’ comp benefits.
4. Submit a claim. Print Form 18 at the North Carolina Industrial Commission 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.)
5. Document the claim. Ask your employer for copies of all documents they have filed regarding your case or on your behalf. Make certain you’ve made a copy of Form 18 and ask your supervisor or manager for a written report on the incident. If they will not write one, you should.
6. 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.
7. Check with the insurance company. Verify that your employer’s insurance company has been notified and your claim has been started. Get the name and phone number of the insurance company from whoever handles your workplace HR office and, if possible, learn the name of the person who will be handling your claim. This person is the adjuster, and you are allowed to speak directly with that person.

If for some reason you are unable to learn the name of your company’s insurer, call the North Carolina Industrial Commission at 1-800-688-8349 for help—or (888) 891-4895 for Insurance Compliance. They can provide you the name of your company’s insurance company, and then you can then alert the insurance company of your injury yourself.

8. Consult an attorney. Finally, it’s highly recommended that you speak with an attorney about your injuries and situation. Many attorneys charge no fees until they’ve helped you recover the full workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. Here at 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 Monroe, North Carolina

As you might suspect, Monroe earned its name from America’s fifth president, James Monroe, and it was founded as a planned settlement. The small town first appeared on maps in 1843 and served as a trading center in the Piedmont region for tobacco and other agricultural products. Monroe is located along the Catawba River, close to the South Carolina border.

About 200 people were residents around the time of the town’s founding. Since then, the population has never contracted. Census records show near-constant growth over the decades, from 2,500 residents in 1900 to more than 10,000 in 1950. Today, more than 35,000 people call Monroe home.

A few famous people who called Monroe home include civil rights activist and Marine veteran Robert F. Williams, NASCAR driver Speedy Thompson, Emmy-award winning recording artist David L. Cook and U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, Jr.

Top employers and industries in Monroe, NC

Monroe and Union County are known for having a high concentration of aerospace companies, which, according to the city website, encompasses at least 19 companies within a 7-mile radius. Farming is also a big part of the local economy as the production of corn and soybeans reigns supreme. Monroe also has several prominent colleges in the area, including South Piedmont Community College, Wingate University and a branch of UNC-Charlotte. Ludwig Drums have been manufactured in Monroe since 1984.

Many workers commute from Monroe into Charlotte—about a 25-minute drive—for jobs in the banking industry, where Wachovia and BankAmerica have headquarters, as does steel manufacturer Nucor and Lowe’s.

Other large employers in Union County include Tyson Foods, ATI Specialty Materials, Union County Government and Schools, Pilgrim’s Pride, Atrium Health, Food Lion, Windsor Window Company, 3M, CR England, McGee Brothers Construction, Greiner Bio-One, True Homes Construction, Edwards Wood Products and Decore-ative Specialties manufacturing.

Local resources for Monroe, NC residents