Helping Injured Workers Make Up for Reduced Wages
If your doctor has returned you to work after a workplace injury, but you are not earning as much as you made before your injury, you may be legally entitled to partial wage loss benefits from your employer or their workers' compensation insurance carrier.
At the law firm of Grandy & Martin in Charlotte, we help injured workers obtain the partial wage loss benefits they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced North Carolina workers' compensation lawyer, contact us. You will pay nothing unless we win your case.
Understanding Who Is Entitled to Partial Wage Loss Benefits
If your doctor returns you to work with light-duty restrictions, your employer may choose to pay you your normal wages or salary, even if you are not being asked to do the same work as before. If this is the case, you are probably not entitled to any wage loss benefits.
However, some employers pay lower wages for light-duty work. In these cases, they are also required to pay partial wage loss benefits under workers' compensation law.
Also, some doctors will restrict injured workers to fewer hours than they normally work. If you normally work full time and have been returned to part-time work, or if you normally work overtime and are now restricted from doing so, you may be entitled to benefits.
Are You Genuinely Able to Return to Work?
The doctors who treat injured workers receive a lot of business from workers' compensation insurance companies. Because of this, they may feel under a duty to return you to work with restrictions such as remaining seated, not lifting heavy items and working limited hours.
If you are unable to do the work you have been assigned, or it is interfering with your medical recovery, we may be able to help you pursue total wage loss benefits.
Our firm has been helping injured workers pursue fair results in North Carolina workers' compensation claims for more than 25 years. If you have any questions or concerns about partial wage loss benefits, don't hesitate to contact us to speak with an attorney.
