Hickory Education Work Injury Lawyer

Hickory Education Work Injury Attorney

Not many people think of teaching as a necessarily dangerous industry, yet teachers run across risks and hazards every day. From being exposed to illnesses at an elementary school along 12th Street South West in Hickory or breaking up an altercation at Hickory High School on 3rd Street North East, being in the education industry can be dangerous. If you have suffered injury as a teacher or administrator at a local school, a Hickory education work injury lawyer can help.

Protect Your Rights to Compensation With Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC

For over two decades, the attorneys at Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC have advocated for the rights of men and women across Catawba, Caldwell, and Burke counties who have been injured while carrying out the duties of their employment. Workers’ compensation claims can be tricky, but we know how to handle them and do so successfully. We see how important teachers and educators are, and our Hickory Workers’ Compensation Lawyer is here to protect your rights when you need us.

Risks and Injuries Faced by Education Workers in Hickory, NC

During the 2020-2021 school year, 5.7% of teachers were threatened with an injury from a student. According to a recent study, teachers see an injury rate of 85 cases per 10,000 full-time workers across the country and a violence rate of 20 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in the education industry.

Teachers face threats every day. There are common hazards, like slippery floors, that can result in slips, trips, and falls. Additionally, a teacher who is on bus duty can be struck by a car due to the negligence of the driver. However, there are other risks that we don’t always think about that can actually result in severe injury to our Hickory educators and may even cause death. These include:

• School violence. Across the United States, school violence is only increasing. Teachers and other educators show up to work every day, not knowing if this is the day a student will bring a firearm with them, a knife, or if someone will call in a bomb threat. Not only can these threats and events of violence cause physical harm and even death, but they can also cause the teacher to suffer psychological harm like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
• Breaking up student altercations. When a teacher is forced to intervene in an altercation between students and suffers injuries, a school staff injury lawyer can help. NC teacher workers’ compensation benefits might be available, but you may also be able to recover damages in a third-party negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing claim.
• Repetitive motion injuries. Teachers often find themselves performing the same tasks day in and day out throughout their years of employment. When a teacher, educator, or other school staff member is not provided with the tools and materials necessary for ergonomic support, they can suffer repetitive stress injuries like Carpal Tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and chronic back or neck pain.

Compensation You May Be Able to Recover

If you are an educator who has suffered an injury at work, then you may be entitled to recover certain benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. These benefits might include:

• Medical benefits. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover all medical treatments related to your injury, including hospital or doctor visits, physical therapies, medications, surgeries, and other treatments.
• Disability benefits. You may be able to receive temporary total disability benefits (TTD), temporary partial disability benefits (TPD), permanent partial disability benefits (PPD), or permanent total disability benefits (PTD), depending on the extent of your injuries and how they affect your ability to return to work.
• Vocational rehab. If you are unable to return to work at all because of your injuries, then your former employer may be entitled to provide you with vocational rehabilitation, which would include paying for all training necessary for a new job.
• Death benefits. If an educator dies due to a work injury, such as in the case of an act of violence like a school shooting, then the dependents of the deceased may be able to recover death benefits through the school’s workers’ compensation insurance.

FAQs About Hickory, NC Education Work Injury Laws

How Do I File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation in NC?

In order to file a claim for workers’ compensation in North Carolina, you must submit a completed Form 18 to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, or the NCIC. There is a set date by which you can file said claim. If this deadline passes before a claim is filed, then you will likely have your case dismissed, and you will be unable to recover any kind of workers’ compensation benefits.

What Do I Do if My Workers’ Comp Claim Was Denied?

If your initial workers’ compensation claim is denied, you need to call an attorney right away. There are a number of reasons why a claim might be denied at first, all of which your lawyer can assist with. Many initial denials can actually be successfully appealed with the right legal representation and evidence.

What Benefits Can I Recover in a Third-Party Claim?

In a third-party claim, there are several benefits you may be able to recover. In cases where negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing caused your injury, you may be entitled to pursue further damages outside of workers’ compensation. This is often the case in situations of school violence. These benefits can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in rare cases, punitive damages.

What Do I Do if I Am Injured at Work as a Teacher?

If you are injured at work as a teacher, the most important thing you can do is move yourself to safety and call 911. If any of your students seem to be in danger, do what you can to move them to safety as well. You should then seek medical treatment and follow the treatment plan given to you by a healthcare provider. You then also need to notify your employer about the injury and speak with an attorney.

Hire a Hickory Education Work Injury Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love is an educator and was harmed while at work, you need to hire an education work injury lawyer as soon as possible. To learn more, contact Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, and schedule a consultation today.