An on-the-job accident in North Carolina can sometimes leave you with only a single injury that requires attention. However, some incidents are more serious, resulting in multiple injuries in different locations on your body.
How do you file a workers’ comp claim for multiple injuries? You would typically follow the same procedure for handling a claim with only one injury. However, you may need to adjust your actions if the injuries happened due to different accidents.
Find out more about your unique situation with our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC.
How We Can Assist You
- Provide Steps for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim for Multiple Injuries
- Handle Multiple Injuries and Workers’ Comp Claims
- Answer Your Questions About Your Workers’ Comp Claim
In This Article
Steps For Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim For Multiple Injuries
If you are one of the many workers hurt on the job, a workers’ comp lawyer can walk you through the process of filing a claim. Generally, securing compensation for your losses requires you to:
Report the Accident
It’s very important that you tell your employer about your injury as soon as possible. Provide information in writing and orally. Make sure your employer gives you a copy of the accident report.
If you cannot report the accident due to your injuries, have your doctor, a friend, or a family member inform your employer about what happened. Mention all injuries you sustained if you experienced multiple injuries.
You must also provide a written account of what happened within 30 days of your accident. Include:
- Details about what happened
- The date of the accident
We recommend that you retain a copy of the document for your own legal records.
Go To a Doctor
You should seek medical care after an on-the-job accident. Your employer may send you to an on-site healthcare provider or a designated medical facility. While you may visit your physician, you have to see a provider selected by your employer at some point.
Provide detailed information about your injuries to the doctor and give the doctor your employer’s name.
Ensure that you follow the orders of your doctor completely. If you do not attend all follow-up appointments and follow your prescribed treatment plan, it can impact your ability to receive workers’ comp benefits for all your injuries.
File a Form 18
Once you’ve received medical treatment, it’s time to submit Form 18 (Notice of Accident to Employer and Claim of Employee, Representative, or Dependent for NC Workers’ Compensation Benefits). You submit this form to the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
After you file the form, provide a copy to your employer and keep a copy for yourself. The form may require information about all the injuries you sustained.
Receive Your Response
After filing Form 18, your employer must issue a response within 30 days. Your employer can either approve or deny your request. Your employer uses one of the three following forms to indicate their response:
- Form 60
- Form 63
- Form 61
If you receive Form 60 or 63, your employer has agreed to pay your workers’ comp benefits. However, Form 63 means your employer reserves the right to terminate your benefits upon further investigation. Employers use Form 61 to deny workers’ comp benefits.
For a legal consultation, call 828.286.3866
Handling Multiple Injuries and Workers’ Comp Claims
If you sustained multiple injuries in a single accident, all the injuries should go on the same workers’ comp claim. You do not have to file an individual Form 18 for each injury sustained in the accident, allowing you to streamline the process for securing compensation.
However, if you end up in multiple accidents, this process changes. You must report the accident, seek medical care, notify your employer, and file a Form 18 for each different accident in your workplace.
Speak To Us About Your Workers’ Comp Claim
How do you file a workers’ comp claim for multiple injuries? In general, you follow the same process as handling a single injury. However, if your injuries came from numerous accidents, you may need to file more than one claim.
Get more detailed information with a workers’ comp lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC.
Call or text 828.286.3866 or complete a Case Evaluation form
