Workers’ Compensation, frequently called workman’s comp or workmen’s comp, is the system set up by the State of North Carolina to compensate employees who are injured in an on-the-job accident. The NC workers’ comp system is enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly and is administered by the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC).
The NC workers’ comp system takes workplace injuries out of tort or negligence law, and generally prevents employees from suing their employer directly. An injured North Carolina worker may sue their employer directly only if the employer intentionally engages in conduct that is substantially certain to result in serious injury or death, or intentionally injures an employee. These are called Woodson claims.
Generally North Carolina law includes employers with three or more employees in the workers’ compensation system. Subcontractors must provide workers’ compensation if they employ one person. Some businesses that are not required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance purchase it anyway. Most companies purchase insurance to cover workers’ comp in North Carolina. Some large companies are self-insured and hire outside administrators to manage their NC workers’ compensation claims.
A North Carolina workers’ comp lawyer can review your particular circumstances and help you determine if you have a NC workers’ compensation case.
