Workers’ compensation insurance is a benefit provided to nearly all North Carolina employees under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. Most employers are required to carry insurance to cover medical expenses and replace a portion of lost wages for work-related injuries and illnesses. The law is intended to ensure that any worker injured on the…
Key Takeaways 500-Week Cap: North Carolina wage replacement benefits generally last up to 500 weeks for temporary total or partial disability. Extended Benefits Exception: If you suffer a total loss of wage-earning capacity, an attorney can petition the Industrial Commission for lifetime benefits starting after your 425th week of disability. Early Termination at MMI: Benefits…
Key Takeaways Benefits are Tax-Free: In most cases, the government does not tax workers’ compensation benefits. Both your weekly wage replacement checks and medical benefits are exempt from federal and North Carolina state income taxes. Settlements are Not Taxed: A lump-sum workers’ comp settlement is also tax-free. However, if you invest that settlement money, any…
If you have been injured on the job as the result of an accident or occupational disease and cannot work, you may be eligible for workers’ comp benefits including disability payments and medical bills. However, if you are considering taking a new job while you have an open workers’ comp claim, you should discuss the…
Key Takeaways Third-Party Claims: You can sue a negligent third party (like a contractor or at-fault driver) for additional damages not covered by workers’ comp. Workers’ Comp Liens: If you win a third-party settlement, your employer’s workers’ comp insurer will place a lien on the funds to recover the benefits they paid you. Payment Priority:…
Some unscrupulous employers respond to a workplace accident by threatening to report an undocumented worker to immigration control if they claim workers’ compensation benefits. If you are an undocumented worker in North Carolina, you have all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both federal and state law, including access to workers’ compensation benefits…
Personal injury clients sometimes ask whether they will have to pay taxes on any compensation recovered in a personal injury claim. The answer is that in most cases, Uncle Sam will not tax the majority of a personal injury settlement. Personal injury claims are meant to make people who have been injured because of others’…
Only a small percentage of lawyers in a state are honored as rising stars each year. The law firm Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., is pleased to announce that partner attorney Ashley T. Banks has been recognized by the Super Lawyers rating service as a 2023 North Carolina Rising Star. Each year, no more…
When a group of people have been injured in the same way by an unsafe product or defective drug, for example, those injured may find that a lawsuit is better pursued as a class action. There are some advantages to requesting that the court combine individual lawsuits into a single class action. A primary benefit…
Selecting the right personal injury lawyer to represent you after an accident involves knowing the right questions to ask. You want to choose an attorney who has handled cases similar to your case and who will take the time to understand your needs. The North Carolina personal injury lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks,…
