Workers’ Compensation and Unsafe Acts in North Carolina

Unsafe acts are a leading cause of on-the-job injuries, yet many North Carolina workers do not understand their rights to compensation when these occur. Lawsuits for workplace injuries are complicated due to state laws that protect employers from liability, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options for your recovery. Read on to learn more about how unsafe acts in the workplace affect workers’ compensation in North Carolina from our team of employment law attorneys.

An unsafe act in a workplace is when an individual has both knowledge and control of an existing unsafe condition or action, but chooses to perform the action or ignore the condition. Some examples of unsafe acts common in North Carolina workplaces include ignoring warnings to wear proper personal protective equipment, using the incorrect machine or tool for the job, and working excessive hours.

Workers generally perform unsafe acts to save time, effort, or both. These unsafe acts and shortcuts that deviate from the required or accepted safe practice create a hazard to oneself, coworkers, and equipment.

Under North Carolina workers’ compensation law, an employee is still entitled to workers’ compensation benefits even if their injury is the result of their own unsafe act. Also, workers injured by the negligence of another employee’s unsafe act may be entitled to workers’ compensation against the at-fault parties. Unfortunately, your North Carolina employer may try to deny or dispute your claim, and they may have reached their plan limit for workers’ compensation insurance.

If you’re considering a personal injury lawsuit, keep in mind that these usually do not apply to work-related injuries due to unsafe acts in the workplace. Though the workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina are complicated, you shouldn’t let that dissuade you from seeking damages.

Some employers fight workers’ compensation claims to keep their insurance premiums low or for other reasons. But reporting a workplace accident and injury is essential to your recovery. Whether your injury on the job was the result of an unsafe act or not, you deserve compensation. Contact an attorney from Miller Law Group to discuss your case as soon as possible.