Settling Your North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Case
The first thing you should know about workers’ compensation settlements is that they are purely voluntary. Your employer, or its workers’ comp insurance company, do not have to agree to settle your claim, and you do not have to agree with a settlement offer proposed by your employer, or its insurance company. Sometimes settlement is not appropriate, like when you need major surgery or are still out of work. However, there are some situations where settlement is in your best interests. In exchange for giving up some or all of your rights to workers’ compensation benefits, you can take a lump sum cash settlement. You can settle your wage loss benefits, your medical benefits, or both. You can also obtain a lump sum payment for a permanent injury, such as for an amputation injury, facial scarring, paralysis, or vision or hearing loss.
Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements in North Carolina
Many employers will propose a settlement of the permanent partial disability issues by offering a dollar amount equivalent to, or slightly less than, the amount of your likely permanent partial disability award under your workers’ compensation claim. An important thing to remember is that you will be required to give up something for this money. You may be giving up the right to argue that you are permanently and totally disabled, or the right to argue that a specific medical condition was related to your workers' comp claim, or the right to any future medical care. You will likely need the advice of an experienced workers’ comp lawyer to help you with this very important decision.
Lump sum settlements must be approved by a North Carolina Deputy Commissioner and are sometimes called a “Clincher Agreement” or a Compromise Settlement Agreement (CSA).
Raleigh Attorneys Helping Injured Workers
If you need help with a workers’ comp mediation or settlement, contact the North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm of Hemmings & Stevens, PLLC today. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingent fee basis, which means there are no fees unless we make a recovery for you. For assistance, call us at (919) 277.0161 or contact us online.
This article regarding workers’ comp settlements is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. If you have a workers’ compensation claim, you may need to seek the advice of a workers’ compensation lawyer at the law firm of Hemmings & Stevens, PLLC, that has experience in these matters.