- April 11, 2024
Worker injuries occur every day, some of them a lot more severe than others. The severity and type of the injury are two of the factors that determine the amount of the workers comp settlement. Various other considerations also impact settlement decisions, which is why you need to speak to a Charlotte workers compensation attorney if you have been injured while doing your job.
Worker Injuries That Pay the Highest Settlements in North Carolina
Statistics suggest that the following kinds of injuries are the ones that contribute to the largest settlements:
Traumatic Brain Injury
A blow to the head or an abrupt jolt can both cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that TBIs rank among the types of trauma most likely to contribute to permanent disabilities and death.
A person who survives a TBI will have an extensive need for expensive medical assistance and they’ll potentially lose their ability to earn an income. These are the reasons why workers with traumatic brain injuries tend to get large workers comp settlements.
Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries
These injuries can occur in numerous ways – from sustaining a fall to being in a car crash or experiencing another kind of catastrophic accident at work. Depending on the location of the injury and its severity, it can easily lead to permanent disability.
Neck fractures and severe spinal cord trauma can cause paralysis affecting either the legs or both the legs and the arms. The estimated lifetime cost of a neck or a spinal injury sustained in one’s 20s can range from 2.5 to 5.1 million dollars.
Burns
Severe burns have a debilitating effect and lifelong consequences. Third and fourth-degree burns are the ones that usually result in the highest North Carolina workers compensation settlements.
Burns can occur due to workplace hazards, the unavailability of adequate protective gear, electrical accidents, exposure to chemicals, hot water accidents. Burn victims need ongoing medical care, which makes such injuries very costly in the long run.
Limb Amputation
According to reports, the average payout workers can expect after the loss of a limb is about one million dollars. The loss of a limb in a workplace accident is linked to serious ongoing medical costs, pain and suffering, as well as a loss in the ability to earn future income.
Chest Injuries
Any fall or blow to the chest can result in trauma and broken ribs. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can lead to chronic pain and breathing difficulties.
Chest injuries occur very often due to slip and fall incidents, as well as other traumatic workplace events. They are also very frequent whenever someone operates a vehicle and is involved in a crash.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
Sometimes, workplace injuries will have no visible effect. They could, however, cause internal bleeding and organ damage.
A vehicle crash or a serious traumatic workplace event will both necessitate hospitalization and urgent medical care to reduce the risk of permanent organ damage or even death. Sometimes, the injuries will be severe enough to cause chronic conditions and make a person dependent on medical assistance for a lifetime.
What Is the Average Workers Compensation Settlement?
In a single year, workers who were injured on the job received compensation benefits amounting to over 62.2 billion dollars. The median awarded amount is approximately 40,000 dollars.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the average settlement you can expect by type of injury. Moderate head injury settlements, for example, come in the range from 30,000 to 60,000 dollars. A back injury will result in average compensation of 20,000 to 25,000 dollars. Neck injuries usually result in the awarding of settlements exceeding 56,000 dollars.
Talking to a North Carolina workers compensation attorney is the key to understanding the specifics of your situation and the options you have. You’ll also get a realistic idea about the kind of settlement that can be expected as a result of the injuries you sustained.
Get in Touch with a Charlotte Workers Compensation Attorney Now!
The sooner you get started with your workers compensation case, the more time you’ll have to gather evidence and navigate some of the intricacies connected to such legal proceedings.
Our experienced team of Charlotte workers comp attorneys can guide you every step of the way. Contact us at 704-706-2689 to schedule your free case review and consultation.
