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Last Modified on May 09, 2026
If you are injured while on the job, your normal weekly paycheck may come to an unexpected halt. Workplace accidents can cause immediate stress, not only physically but also financially and emotionally. Workers’ compensation benefits are divided into categories that can help ease the burden after a work injury. Additionally, you must be aware of the strict time limits for filing a workers’ comp claim in North Carolina to protect your right to recovery.
Medical Benefits
Medical treatment is one of the most crucial workers’ compensation benefits available in North Carolina. Workers’ comp insurance can generally pay for reasonable and necessary medical treatment resulting from a work injury or occupational disease. Medical benefits can include:
- Emergency room visits
- Doctor visits
- Rehabilitation costs
- Surgeries
- Medications
Many times, workers can also receive payment for medical equipment, pain management, psychological counseling, or long-term care costs related to the injury. It is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after a workplace injury, not only for your health but because medical records often become key evidence in a workers’ comp claim.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 64,200 private industry employees in North Carolina suffered occupational injuries in 2024. Out of these, 35,700 were serious. There were 16,900 documented cases of illness and injury in state and municipal governments. This emphasizes the need for workers’ compensation and the necessity for help with the various kinds that are available.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
Injured workers who are unable to return to any type of work while recovering from their injuries may be able to receive temporary total disability benefits. Also known as TTD benefits, these are wage-replacement benefits that can help injured workers partially replace wages while they recover from their injuries.
Workers who receive TTD benefits are usually recovering from surgeries, broken bones, serious back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or other serious injuries that take an extended period of time before they can return to work.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
Some workers are able to return to work in some capacity after their injury, but make less money due to medical restrictions. Temporary partial disability benefits may help these workers who have suffered an injury but cannot earn 100% of their previous wages.
These benefits can be beneficial to employees who have suffered an injury that mandates light-duty restrictions for an extended period of time. You may also worry about whether you can be forced out of your position; if you find yourself asking, can my North Carolina employer refuse to let me return to work after an injury, it is crucial to understand your statutory protections.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
There are some workers’ comp cases where an injury can lead to permanent damage, even after the injured employee has finished treatment. Permanent partial disability benefits can help when an employee suffers permanent damage to specific areas or functions of the body.
Some examples of permanent impairments include decreased range of motion, chronic pain, nerve damage, limited mobility, or other residual effects after the worker has reached maximum medical improvement from their work injury.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
Permanent total disability benefits are possible for some employees who are permanently injured on the job. This benefit is awarded to injured workers who may never be able to return to work due to their injuries.
Examples can include serious spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, severe burns, or loss of multiple limbs. Permanent total disability claims can be complicated and require a lot of medical evidence that the worker may never be able to return to work.
Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Serious Injury Claims
Dealing with a serious workplace injury can create complex legal and medical issues. Many of these injuries can create the need for wage replacement, vocational rehabilitation, future medical treatment, and long-term disability evaluations. Employees who face permanent impairments or denied claims should hire a workers’ comp lawyer. If your workplace injury was caused by a negligent third party, you may also need the assistance of a Charlotte personal injury lawyer to seek additional compensation.
A lawyer focusing on workers’ comp can guide injured workers through their rights as laid out in North Carolina workers’ comp laws. Workers comp attorneys can also help with hearings, settlement negotiations, appeals, and disputes with independent medical examinations.
FAQs
What Are the Top Five Types of Employee Benefits?
Examples of common benefits are health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, disability insurance and coverage, and workers’ compensation benefits. Other employers may offer life insurance, wellness programs, flexible schedules, or tuition reimbursement. Availability of benefits varies by employer, industry, and position. Benefits may help employees offset the cost of health care and financial hardships due to illness or injury.
Is Bursitis Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
If your bursitis is caused by repetitive job activities or job-related strain, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers who repetitively kneel, lift, reach, or use repetitive motions can develop inflammation in the joints. Medical records can become very important in these claims, as insurance companies may argue that your condition was not caused by work-related activities and may be related to non-work-related pre-existing conditions.
What Are the Different Types of Compensation Insurance?
Compensation insurance may include workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and liability coverage for bodily injuries that occur at work. Workers’ compensation insurance provides medical and wage replacement benefits to employees who suffer an injury while working. Other types of insurance may be carried by employers depending on industry, state laws, and workplace exposure.
Can Carpal Tunnel Be Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation covers carpal tunnel syndrome if repetitive work activities aggravated or contributed to the injury. Most of the time, medical evidence will be needed to prove that your work duties caused or contributed to your condition. Insurance companies often try to deny claims, stating that your carpal tunnel syndrome was not caused by work but by hobbies, activities, or prior medical conditions.
About Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC
At Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC, our goal is to provide you with information and legal advice to injured workers and their families throughout North Carolina. We know how overwhelming workers’ compensation claims can become when you’re faced with medical bills, lost wages, and insurance denials affecting your everyday life.
Serving the greater Charlotte area, Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC assists injured workers near NoDa, Plaza Midwood, University City, and other Mecklenburg County communities. Contact us today for a consultation.
