North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart (2024)

If you are injured on the job or diagnosed with an occupational illness, you may find that you are entitled to certain benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, but determining exactly how much compensation you are eligible for can be difficult. An attorney from Ganly & Ramer, P.L.L.C., can review your case and help you estimate the amount using a North Carolina workers’ compensation settlement chart.

Being injured at your place of work can be an extremely difficult and stressful event and may leave you dealing with medical bills when you are unable to return to work due to a temporary or permanent disability. In these situations, your doctor can review your injuries and offer an impairment rating that can be used to calculate your available settlement amount.

Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart in North Carolina

When you sustain an injury in a workplace accident and are eligible to begin receiving certain benefits under workers’ compensation, you may not know how much you can potentially receive in benefits. The amount of a workers’ comp settlement can vary, but a North Carolina workers’ compensation chart can help you determine how much compensation you may be eligible to receive from a settlement.

A North Carolina workers’ compensation settlement chart can provide you with a general estimate based on a number of specific factors, such as the nature and severity of the injury you have suffered and your average weekly wage prior to your injury or the diagnosis of your illness.

Factors Considered in the Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart

In the state of North Carolina, when figuring out the amount of compensation you may be entitled to following a workplace injury or diagnosis of an occupational illness, there are several factors that may be taken into account. These factors can be included on your settlement chart, and how they impact your case will ultimately reflect the amount and type of compensation you receive. Factors taken into consideration include:

• The Body Part Affected: In North Carolina, there is a certain monetary value given to each and every area of your body in the event of a workplace injury. From the legs to the spinal cord, these values are assessed on an impairment rating that is provided by your doctor to the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The more useful or valuable a body part is deemed as it applies to your job, the higher your settlement may be.
• The Value of the Injury: A financial value may be given to that area of your body that sustained the injury in the workplace accident. This value may be related to your weekly wages. The benefits you are able to receive for workers’ comp will usually be about two-thirds of your weekly wage, which can include all bonuses and overtime you may receive during that time.
• Your Estimated Recovery Time: Another factor that will likely be considered in your workers’ compensation settlement is the approximate time, typically in weeks, that you will be recovering from your injury and unable to work. During this time, you will begin to receive your benefits from the workers’ compensation claim.
• Your Average Wages: The last factor considered in your North Carolina workers’ compensation settlement is the average, estimated value of your weekly wages that were being earned at the time that the accident occurred.

You can multiply the values of the last three factors to determine the estimated settlement value for the injury you have suffered. This is just one way that workers’ compensation is determined in North Carolina. The exact amount will largely depend on the part of your body that suffered the injury and your total weekly wages at the time of your accident.

Impairment Ratings in North Carolina Work Injury Cases

To determine the value of your injury, your doctor may need to provide an assessment of your impairment rating. They will then report this impairment rating to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which will be in charge of disbursing the benefits to you. There are several factors that can impact your impairment rating, including the following:

• The type of injury suffered
• The area of the body affected
• The diagnosis
• Any range of mobility limitations
• If surgery is needed
• Loss of strength suffered
• Pain levels currently being experienced
• The impact of the injuries on your daily life and tasks
• Your ability to return to work

FAQs

Which Body Part Has the Highest Value in a Workers’ Comp Claim in NC?

Usually, in North Carolina, the more functional a body part, the higher its value in a claim for worker’s compensation. For example, the loss of a finger may have less value than an arm or leg amputation. In addition to the body part injured, the other factor that will determine value is the severity of the injury. Despite this, the body part with the highest value in a claim is typically the head.

Does Workers’ Comp Cover Pain and Suffering in NC?

In North Carolina, workers’ compensation does not include coverage for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. If you are able to submit a claim against a negligent third party in a personal injury case in addition to a workers’ compensation claim, you may be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering.

What Conditions May Be Involved in an Impairment Evaluation for Workers’ Comp in NC?

When deciding an impairment rating to help determine the amount of benefits available according to a workers’ compensation settlement chart, a doctor can do an impairment evaluation for the following conditions: fractures, lacerations, back injuries, nerve injuries, and mobility issues, such as those affecting the knee, foot, ankle, rotation of the hip, and the positioning of the elbows, shoulders, or fingers.

Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement Taxable in NC?

In the state of North Carolina, the benefits you receive in a workers’ compensation settlement are typically not taxable on the state or federal level, but there may be some exceptions. Any interest earned on a settlement amount may be taxed. If you receive any punitive damages or additional benefits, they are viewed as taxable income and may be taxed.

Reach Out to an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

If you have been injured at work in North Carolina, you are likely wondering how much you may be eligible to receive under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. At Ganly & Ramer, P.L.L.C., we understand that a workers’ compensation settlement chart can be at first glance. Fortunately, we have been handling these cases since 1982 and know how to explain your rights and eligibility so that you’ll clearly understand. Contact our office today.