Legal Question in Workers Comp in North Carolina

Re: Is a settlement due?

Assuming your case has been accepted on the correct form and you are earning the same or greater wages while on light duty, the carrier will usually want to settle once the doctor releases you at maximum medical improvement and assigns a permanent disability rating. At that point, you will have an election to make between different types of benefits. Usually, they will not tell you what these are or that you have the right to a second medical opinion from a doctor of YOUR choice.

You may recover for scarring, permanent partial disability, ongoing disability or a wage loss if you have to change jobs. The settlement may be submitted on an Industrial Commission form or in a special written settlement agreement. This is complicated, so I suggest you get an attorney. Good luck, George Lennon