You have to know your status first. Whether you will be offered a Workers’ Compensation settlement in North Carolina depends on many factors.
Medical Treatment Status. First, after the claim is filed and the insurer agrees that you are initially covered, you will focus on getting better. Before even considering a workers’ compensation settlement in North Carolina, it is imperative that you know the full extent of your medical condition and that you have reached the point in your treatment where you are as good and healthy as medical science will allow. First and foremost, you should NOT consider a settlement before you know the full extent of your medical condition and while there’s a chance for improvement. If you are treating with just the company doctor, you should talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer who will explain how and if you can see a doctor of your own choosing to get a second opinion.
Work Status. You will also want to know if you can return to work or not before considering a settlement. You may try a trial work experiment to see if you can do the job. There are rules and practical issues that you should review with your attorney first before considering going back to work when dealing with workers’ comp situations – even on a trial basis.
Review of overall treatment and case status. Once you know the extent of your injuries and your ability or inability to return to work, you should then review your status with your North Carolina Workers’ Compensation lawyer. The attorney will make sure you are getting the proper medical advice so you are making a complete and full decision. The lawyer will then make sure you have all the medical and wage loss evidence that you need.
Once these tasks have been achieved, you can then ask for mediation of your case. Mediation means that someone agreed to by both your lawyer and the insurance company lawyer will work to resolve your dispute. Your lawyer knows that having an experienced mediator who understands employee pain is to your advantage. There is no specific timetable for mediation unless there is a contested issue. You can continue to receive your benefits (as long as they’re not contested) for the remainder of your benefit period.
North Carolina lawyer Joe Miller has helped thousands of personal injury and workers compensation clients at his Work Injury Center law practice. He knows the pros and cons of lump sum settlements. Contact him today online or by phone at 888-694-1671.
