Call Us 919-240-4054A new client, Ralph, came to talk with us about settling his workers’ comp claim. He wasn’t sure that he needed a lawyer, but since his friend urged him to call Johnson & Groninger, he figured that it couldn’t hurt. A workers’ comp consultation is free. He met with Valerie Johnson to talk about his […]
Work Injury
Natural gas workers are inhaling hazardous chemical benzene
Now that North Carolina is poised to start hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in order to drill for natural gas, we are concerned about the possible health effects on workers in the gas industry. Researchers for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently finished a study of workers at six oil and gas sites […]
Court says former employer has to pay workers’ compensation benefits while employee looks for a different job
If you were injured on the job and it took years for you to heal from your injury, would it then be too late to ask your former employer to give you retraining for something different, or help you look for a job? The Court of Appeals recently ruled that where an injured worker provides […]
Court sides with worker who fell for unknown reason
To be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina for an arm injury, an injured worker needs to show that the injury was caused by an “accident”. If an employee injures his arm because of something that is an ordinary event, part of life for everyone, he is ordinarily not entitled to benefits. Sometimes, […]
Group honors Valerie Johnson for helping injured workers in North Carolina
Valerie was honored for her tireless efforts on behalf of workers’ rights in North Carolina by the North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute at its 40th Annual Awards Banquet and Birthday Celebration. She also spoke at the banquet on the topic of labor and the changing political climate impacting injured workers in the state. Clayola Brown, the national president […]
Ask an expert: Should I report getting hurt at work, even if I was injured while playing around?
Answer: Yes. You should report the injury AND tell the truth about how it occurred – even if you know the injury is totally your fault. In North Carolina, the workers’ comp rules require you to have an injury by accident during a break in a worker’s normal routine in order for you to qualify for benefits. It […]
New rules would further burden injured workers
Getting benefits after you are injured at work may get a lot harder thanks to some new rules written by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. One significant and unfortunate proposal is that workers may be asked to pay for the right to get their benefits under the law. Most of the cost burden fell on […]
Workers with side jobs may risk workers’ compensation coverage
In these tough economic times, even the folks out there who are lucky enough to have jobs are often underpaid. And being the hard workers that they are, in order to make ends meet, those folks often seek out second jobs or side jobs related to their full-time employment. If you’re one of those people, you should […]
NC Court of Appeals ruling makes it more difficult for injured workers to keep their workers’ comp benefits in a down economy
In Medlin v. Weaver Cooke Construction, a civil engineer hurt his shoulder on the job and was out of work receiving medical treatment. He was later able to return to work, but he had permanent restrictions that prevented him from doing all the tasks he used to do before his injury. He was later laid off due […]
Injured workers must prove what caused their injury
An injured worker who can’t prove what exactly caused the injury is not entitled to benefits, according to a recent ruling issued by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Sonya Chaffins, a former employee of Tar Heel Capital Corporation, filed for workers’ compensation after an injury to her shoulder on the job in 2010. Chaffins had suffered a […]
