Most employees expect the protection of workers compensation in the event they sustain workplace injuries. However, although employers of three or more workers must carry workers compensation insurance by law, injured workers can learn too late that their employers fraudulently waived the coverage, leaving them facing extensive costs for medical treatment. Especially if you work in a dangerous profession, an experienced workers compensation attorney in North Carolina can often help you verify that a prospective employer carries appropriate coverage even before you begin employment.
Newsobserver.com reports the case of a worker who suffered quadriplegia after a workplace accident in 2009. The owner of the construction company that employed the worker claimed his crew consisted entirely of independent contractors, allowing him to purchase an inexpensive ghost policy designed to cover any potential future hires over the next year. The insurance certificate is identical in appearance to certificates for full coverage, making it possible to convince companies that subcontract the crew that the company complies with workers compensation laws. Because of the complexities of determining the legal liability of other insurers, the case was still in appeals in 2012.
Even an experienced North Carolina workers’ comp attorney cannot guarantee quick resolution of claims involving employers who fail to carry legally required insurance policies to protect their workers. And companies that subcontract their workers to other companies snare injured workers in a maze of legal complications that can leave them without the funds to pay the expenses related to their on-the-job injuries. Particularly when seeking employment in dangerous professions, if workers have any doubt about the workers compensation insurance coverage carried by a company, it makes sense to seek legal advice before accepting employment.
Whether you sustain injuries on the job, or if you want to ensure a prospective employer carries all legally required workers compensation coverage before you start work, the attorneys at Lanier Law Group, P.A. have over two decades of experience guiding injured workers through often-complex legal issues. Call us at (855) 757-4204 to learn how we can help.