Every year, people are hurt in preventable accidents at work. So can I sue the employer when they did something wrong and that error caused the injury?
Workers' Compensation Act
The legislature in North Carolina enacted the Workers’ Compensation Act in 1929. The intent of the Act was to provide a swift remedy for workers injured on the job. Prior to this, an injured worker would have to sue the employer and hope that after a lengthy legal battle the employer would be found negligent and have to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This manner of compensating injured workers for on the job injuries caused a significant burden on North Carolina families.
The Workers’ Compensation Act is designed to provide a speedy recovery regardless of whether someone is at fault for causing the injury. Taking into consideration the impact on businesses, the legislature also provided protection for employers. When an employee is injured at work and it is within the course and scope of their employment the employer is immune from being sued in a civil action, regardless of whether the injury was caused by the negligence of the employer. This is often referred to as the exclusivity provision and means that the injured worker is limited to the remedies provided under the workers’ compensation system. The Workers’ Compensation Act does not provide a remedy for pain and suffering, so the amount of compensation will be smaller. However, if the employer acts willfully in failing to comply with safety standards, the employer may be required to pay a 10% penalty. By the same token, an employee may have their benefits reduced by 10% if they willfully fail to follow company rules and regulations. See N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-12.
Still Want to Sue?
Employees may still have a remedy for pain and suffering if someone other than the employer is responsible for the incident that caused the injury. The legal action will be against the other entity or person, not the employer. Since this other entity is not the employer it is considered a “third party.”
A Third Party may include the following:
- Drivers who cause motor vehicle accidents resulting in injuries
- Manufacturers of defective products, such as forklifts, batteries or tires
- Subcontractors who do something wrong on the job site
- Owners of property where injuries occurred if the property didn't belong to the employer
It is important that any injury occurring at work be investigated for a possible third-party claim. It takes time, knowledge of the law, and perseverance to investigate these claims. It can also be difficult to find the information necessary to pursue a third-party claim.
When a claim is pursued, the law allows that the employee and/or employer may seek recovery from a third party. That is because the employer who paid workers’ compensation benefits is entitled to be reimbursed up to the amount of benefits it paid the injured employee. See N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-10.2. There are many factors that can affect the amount of reimbursement the employer is entitled to recover.
An experienced workers' compensation attorney can help you sort through the facts, determine whether you can seek additional compensation through an action against a third party, and assure that you recover a fair and just amount.
You've got one chance to get the compensation you deserve — make it count.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
