Practice Areas

News

Library

North Carolina Workers' Compensation

Disability Insurance - ERISA Attorney

Social Security Disability

Nursing Home Neglect

Medical Malpractice, Hospital Malpractice, Professional Negligence

Accident Attorney

Dog Bite Attorney

Insurance Disputes

Firm Videos

General

Other Links:

WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER DENIES THE INJURED WORKER’S CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION BENEFITS?

If the employer and the injured employee or his dependents fail to reach an agreement regarding an application for workers’ compensation benefits, either party may apply to the Industrial Commission for a hearing. This application should be on a Form 33.

This hearing shall be held as quickly as possible and will be held in the city or county where the injury occurred unless the Industrial Commission decides otherwise.

The Industrial Commission will usually assign a deputy industrial commissioner to hear the case.

A hearing before a deputy industrial commissioner is much like a trial in civil court except that there is no jury. The deputy industrial commissioner sits as a judge and also decides the factual issues in question.

The law requires the deputy commissioner to decide the case within 180 days of the close of the hearing unless it extends time for good cause.

If either party is dissatisfied with the ruling of the deputy commissioner, they may file an appeal to the full Industrial Commission which shall review the award.

New evidence is usually not presented at the appeal hearing to the full Industrial Commission. The full Industrial Commission has the authority to issue a completely new decision and make new findings of fact and may make findings of fact contrary to the facts found by the deputy commissioner.

An appeal from the full Industrial Commission can be made to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. However, for this appeal, only issues of law would be decided. The Court of Appeals will uphold any factual issue decided by the Industrial Commission if there is any evidence to support that finding.

The injured worker should be represented by an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer during all hearings, informal or otherwise, before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Usually very serious and important issues are decided by the Industrial Commission and it is important that the worker’s rights are protected. This can best be done with the assistance of an experienced workers' compensation lawyer.

North Carolina's Essential
Guide to Accident Cases



Ten Costly Mistakes
That Can Wreck Your
North Carolina Case

Get my FREE Book NOW!


How to Get Top Dollar$
for Your Workers' Compensation Claim



If You Have A Workers' Compensation Claim, You Can Learn How To Deal With Your Employer's Insurance Company.

Get my FREE Book NOW!


Quick Contact

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Tell us more:


Brent Adams & Associates
Raleigh, Fayetteville & Dunn, NC

Toll Free: 800-849-5931
Phone: 910.892.8177
Fax: 910.892.0652

FAQs

North Carolina Workers' Compensation

Social Security Disability

General

view all <<