If you make a claim about a work injury and you can work, you must work. If you don’t have work to do at your current job, you must look for work. This rule is confusing for injured employees. They often ask, “Why do I have to look for work?” “What kind of work do I have […]
Law Blog
Who should pay your medical bills after an accident?
If your accident was caused by the driver of a car or truck, you would think their insurance company should pay your bills, right? After all, that driver was responsible, not you. But in North Carolina, most of the time that is not how it works right when you most need the payment. First, the other […]
Will my health insurance stop when I am out on workers’ comp?
Kevin* hurt his back lifting boxes at work and couldn’t do his job as a maintenance supervisor. He was concerned about losing his income and getting good treatment for his back. But Kevin was also concerned about keeping his health insurance. He has diabetes and high blood pressure, and his yearly medical exam is coming […]
Another Driver Rear-Ended Me. Do I Need to Get a Lawyer?
Maybe yes, but maybe not. We get a lot of calls from people who have been in car wrecks, but who don’t necessarily need a lawyer. What they need is some guidance about what they should do next, how their medical bills should get paid, and how they should go about deciding whether to get a lawyer. We […]
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?
You got hurt at work and need medical treatment. You are stressed and worried that you are going to be out of work. You need your wages to support yourself and your family. hen it crosses your mind, “Can my boss fire me for filing a workers’ compensation claim?” The answer is no. You can’t be fired […]
Update on how you can get copies of your medical records
People often want to know exactly what their medical records say. Maybe your insurance company won’t cover a certain procedure, or your workers’ compensation or personal injury claim was denied. Insurance companies often say it’s because of something in your records. Obtaining your records can sometimes help cut down on the cost of duplicate or […]
How do I get paid for the time out of work after I got hurt?
When you are hurt at work the first problem you may face is getting prompt and effective medical treatment for your injury. The second problem is getting paid for your time out of work. Payment for lost wages when you can’t work should begin 14 days after your job has notice of your injury. North Carolina law […]
New law burdens employees who report abuse of children, the elderly, or animals
Nurses and many other healthcare professionals have a duty to report abuse of their patients. Similarly, North Carolina requires people who see that a child or elderly person is endangered by a caregiver to make a report. From time to time, people in the agricultural and human services industries have documented illegal abuse and have reported […]
Valerie Johnson and Meghan Deutsh-Blanco lead team in the Justice Iredell Middle School Mock Trial Regional Tournament
On December 18th, Valerie and Meghan’s team of aspiring legal minds from Rogers Herr Middle school competed in the Justice Iredell Middle School Mock Trial Regional Tournament at the Durham County courthouse. The event was sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association and was a chance for middle school students to learn firsthand about the […]
Understanding what a doctor does is critical to your workers’ compensation claim
Practicing medicine is hard. In addition to figuring out how best to treat a medical condition, the doctor has to follow regulations, bill insurance companies and keep detailed records. Understanding that doctors and medical personnel are writing down everything that they see or hear that is critical to your claim. Click here to read more on this […]