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THE WORK COMP BLOG

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P: 828-252-2852

Why Do You Need a Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

The North Carolina workers’ compensation law is clear. If you suffered an injury by an accident arising out of and in the course of your employment, your employer is responsible for having insurance to cover your medical bills and a percentage of lost wages. Unfortunately, employers and their insurance carriers will sometimes challenge the worker’s right to compensation.

If you have been denied compensation for a workplace injury, or if the insurance carrier has cut off your benefits, it’s a good idea to talk with an attorney who knows workers’ compensation law well and who always works on behalf of injured and disabled people. Contact an Asheville workplace injury attorney at the David Gantt Law Office in North Carolina.

If you cannot go back to work yet, we will listen. David understands the medical issues and can work with you and your doctor to prove your case for benefits.
Protecting your workers’ compensation rights means protecting against future wage losses and protecting your right to necessary medical treatment.
If you are permanently and totally disabled, workers’ compensation is an important step to getting Social Security disability benefits and Medicare benefits.
Select a lawyer who has the respect of his peers and the judges in the workers’ compensation system. David is often asked to speak to other lawyers and medical staff about workers’ compensation issues.
Board Certification Demonstrates a High Level of Knowledge and Experience

After years of demonstrated experience helping injured and disabled workers, David Gantt passed a certification exam given by the North Carolina Bar Association in 2003 and he was re-certified in 2008. For experienced, knowledgeable representation, contact our law office for a free consultation. All cases are handled on a contingency basis.

P: 828-252-2852

Contact David Today

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FREQUENTLY ASKED WORKERS' COMPENSATION QUESTIONS

Q. What should I do if my employer refuses to report my work accident?

A. NC law requires you to file a written notice of accident within thirty (30) days of your injury. You should contact the NC Industrial Commission or a local lawyer to get the proper forms to file your claim in a timely manner. Your failure to properly file the claim may result in denial based on legal procedure. The NC Industrial Commission is the government agency that compiles info on work accidents and serves as the court to decide disputed claims in workers’ compensation matters.

Q. How much $ will I get from WC due to an on-the-job injury?

A. NC law permits an injured worker to receive 66%of his or her pre injury gross wages for each week they are unable to work. This salary continuation or temporary total disability (TTD) payment continues until the worker returns to work at the same job or a “suitable” position making similar wages. If the worker cannot return to a job making similar wages, they are entitled to additional benefits depending on the extent of loss of earning capacity. Each year, the maximum TTD is increased. In 2005, the maximum TTD was $704.

Q. What if I have problems after I settle my workers’ compensation claim?

A. Most insurance companies will try to “clinch” or close out the claim when they offer a settlement. This means you can never reopen your claim and cannot get any more medical treatment paid by the carrier. Other settlements can be reached that allow you to reopen the claim for at least a two (2) year period after settlement if your condition changes. Whether you should “clinch” or leave the case open for the two (2) year period is an important decision that should not be made without a complete evaluation of how any future medical expenses will be handled. Medicare and Medicaid have the right to question future medical expenses that result from you work injury.

How do I pay my lawyer?

All charges for legal services must be approved by the IC. Generally, lawyers charge a 25% flat fee for their services on WC cases. This fee is payable only if: Your claim is successful; and The IC approves the fee. Most lawyers also charge for copies, medical records received from medical providers, long distance calls and other expenses of handling your claim. These costs are usually owed whether or not your claim is successful.

What injuries are covered?

WC law covers most accidental injuries as well as back injuries if they are caused by your work. While pre-existing injuries are generally not the responsibility of the employer, aggravation of these same injuries may be compensable under WC law. The critical determination is whether your new injury was caused by your medical condition or by an accident on the job. An injury by itself does not mean an accident occurred.

Q. What can I do if my workers’ compensation checks are late?

A. You should call the insurance carrier and ask (1) whether your check was mailed? and (2) if so, when it was mailed?. Weekly workers’ compensation checks are generally late because either the postal service is slow or your check has "fallen off the diary". Insurance company program computer to print checks according to an automatic diary for a specific number of weeks. When that number of weeks is over, your check “falls off the diary” and must be reset for additional weeks if checks continue to be due. An immediate call to the insurance adjuster should be sufficient to reset the check diary. If checks are regularly late, you should consult a qualified lawyer to take more aggressive action through the NC Industrial Commission.

Our Video Library is not closed-captioned.  Instead of embedding our videos, we have created posts for them, where full transcripts of can be found.
Click on the links below to view the video and its transcript.

Workers’ Compensation Overview on Vimeo

Workers Compensation Overview

Workers’ Compensation Injuries and the Complex nature of the law on Vimeo

Workers’ Compensation Injuries and the Complex Nature of the Law

Waiting Periods for Workers’ Compensation Benefit Payments

Waiting Periods for Workers’ Compensation Benefits

NC Workers’ Compensation Elements of Settlement

NC Workers’ Compensation Elements of Settlement

Settlements of Workers’ Compensation Claims on Vimeo

Settlement of Workers’ Compensation Claims in North Carolina

Pre Existing Conditions and Work Comp in North Carolina

Pre-existing Conditions and Workers’ Compensation Claims

NC Workers’ Comp Covers Many Different Kinds of Injuries

NC Workers’ Comp Covers Many Different Kinds of Injuries

Reopening Workers’ Compensation Cases

Reopening Workers’ Compensation Cases

Can’t Return To Work After an Injury

Workers’ Compensation Benefits When You Cannot Return to Work

Specific Traumatic Injuries

Specific Traumatic Injuries Under Workers’ Compensation

~ What Our Clients Say ~

Google Review 2020

April 8, 2020

My first time meeting Mr.Gantt, he was very open and honest about what it takes to get my SSDI. He was optimistic about my case. He walked me through what he needed on my part. I was very happy with the results of my hearing. I am very pleased with Mr.Gantt and definitely recommend his…

Yelp Review 2019

December 19, 2019

David Gantt and his staff were excellent very informative, kept me updated on every move and with this dedication I was able to win my Social Security hearing. Highly Recommend.

November 2019 AVVO Review

November 27, 2019

Amazing! When my husband was injured, we didn’t know who to turn to. I started googling to find a attorney, I called Mr. Gantt, I couldn’t be more thankful! The nightmare was over as Mr. Gantt and his amazing team handled everything from that very moment! Not only was professional but extremely caring, taking time…

November 2019 AVVO Review

November 27, 2019

David Gantt and his staff handled my disability claim and they were excellent. I highly recommend him, he is the best in Western North Carolina. Mrs. Kelly Reaves 5.0 stars November 5, 2019

October 2019 Martindale Hubble Review

October 29, 2019

David is clear, precise, and delivers as promises.

2019 Google Review

August 7, 2019

The entire staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, helpful, and nice people! David was professional. He knew exactly what he was talking about and did what he said he was going to do. I have had a wonderful experience with this firm and will not hesitate to use them in the future.

2019 AVVO Review “Get ‘er done Gantt!”

July 10, 2019

I was very satisfied with David Gantt’s expertise and knowledge in all aspects handling my case. He dealt with all the paperwork and contacted all necessary providers to get my medical history – it was extremely hassle free! He communicated and counseled me on what to expect – being very forthcoming (he’s a straight shooter)!…

2019 Facebook review

June 5, 2019

I highly recommend Mr. Gantt. He is very kind and always professional. He prepared me for my disability hearing and calmed my nerves. Everything happened exactly as he said it would. I honestly do not think that I would have been approved for disability without his help. Also, his office staff were always ready to…

2019 Google Review

May 28, 2019

Mr. Gantt took good care of me. I will be forever grateful for him getting me the social security payments I need for a disability due to military service. He seems like a genuine compassionate good man. I highly recommend! ~C.M.

2019 Google Review

May 10, 2019

David and his entire staff are so nice and show compassion to everybody. He was there when I had any questions. David Gantt is the best attorney in his field, he goes above and beyond. I am extremely grateful to him and his staff. ~M.H.

2019 Google Review

May 9, 2019

Very nice and friendly service. They always answered any of my questions. Had a great experience working with them on my disability case. I highly recommend there services! After trying for 6 years and 2 unfavorable decisions, David and his team did a great job representing my case and won. I appreciate there time and…

2019 Google Review

May 9, 2019

The whole office is very respectful. Answered all my questions. So Glad they were there cause I had no clue after fighting for 2 years. Thank you guys soo much. ~K.H.

2019 Google Review

May 9, 2019

I am very grateful to David Gantt & his staff! They were wonderful and made the confusing process much easier to understand. I wish I had contacted them sooner. They were super to work with and such nice people! Thank you so much! ~K.S.

Avvo Review 2019

May 7, 2019

Mr. Gantt is a highly compassionate and professional lawyer. He worked hard for me to show my disabilities. Always pleasant and supportive, while being very much on top of his cases. I recommend David Gantt to anyone. Great Attorney! 5 Stars. ~ Dakota

Google Review 2019

April 10, 2019

Wonderful client services..very friendly and willing to go the extra mile to help clients. highly recommend him for anyone needing assistance for the Disability SSI. ~T.D.

2019 Google Review

April 9, 2019

I am so grateful to Mr. Gantt & his staff. They have been so professional and knowledgeable. They’ve answered all of my questions and made a very stressful situation, bearable. I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Gantt. He is knowledgeable, professional & caring. ~J.H.

Avvo Review 2019

April 8, 2019

Linda Calloway Mundy David Gantt is an outstanding Lawyer. I highly recommend him. He was beside me all the way and I would like to thank him. ~Linda 5 Stars

2019 Google Review

March 9, 2019

David Gantt and his staff are very professional, upfront, honest and nice. They made me feel at ease discussing my case. They helped me with every step of the way towards my disability approval. I would recommend them to anyone. They kept me updated on everything. Just wish I had contacted them sooner. ~D.P.S.

2019 Google Review

February 10, 2019

When I applied for Social Security Disability I saw no reason that I would need a lawyer since my case seemed clear. It wasn’t until the second rejection that I realized that I had no idea how the system worked. A couple of local lawyers I had contacted suggested that I talked to David Gantt…

2019 Google Review

February 10, 2019

This office is fantastic. The staff is helpful and friendly. He is honest with you about the pros and cons of your case. He works hard to get a positive result. ~S.G.

~ What Our Clients Say ~