North Carolina Workers' Comp for Hand & Finger Injuries

Key Takeaways

• Hand and finger injuries are common in North Carolina workplaces and can significantly impact work and daily life.
• Injured workers should report the accident immediately, seek medical attention, and file a workers’ compensation claim.
• Workers’ compensation in NC covers nearly all employees but typically excludes independent contractors.
• Common workplace hand and finger injuries include amputations, broken or dislocated fingers, lacerations, burns, crushing injuries, and repetitive motion injuries.
• Workers’ comp benefits may include temporary or permanent disability payments based on injury severity and impairment.
• Following a doctor’s treatment plan and obtaining experienced legal representation can increase chances of receiving full benefits.
• Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group helps injured workers in Durham, Sanford, and surrounding areas pursue maximum workers’ compensation for hand and finger injuries.

We use our hands and fingers every day without much conscious thought. However, workplace injuries affecting the hands and fingers can be life-altering. Unfortunately, hand and finger injuries are common in workplaces across North Carolina, affecting employees in numerous industries.

People who are hurt on the job may find that hand and finger injuries prevent them from returning to work, earning an income, or even caring for themselves or their family members. At Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., we work with injured workers in Durham, Sanford, and the surrounding areas of North Carolina, helping them manage hand and finger injury compensation claims. We aim to make the process of pursuing workers’ compensation benefits less confusing and stressful while we seek the benefits the injured worker deserves.

We are a small firm that believes in delivering big results. Contact our Durham office today or 24/7 at 919-980-9895 to arrange a complimentary workers’ compensation case evaluation if you have been injured on the job. We have an office conveniently located at 3400 Croasdaile Drive, Suite 300. Durham, NC. We are ready to help you understand your legal options.

What to Do After a Hand or Finger Injury at Work

Suffering a finger or hand injury at work can be frightening. However, the actions an injured worker takes during the event and in the days and weeks after can profoundly impact their chances of mounting a successful workers’ compensation claim.

If you are injured on the job in Durham County, Lee County, or elsewhere in North Carolina, follow this step-by-step guide to put yourself in the best position possible to get medical care and seek the benefits you deserve:

• Report the accident. You must notify your employer about the accident immediately. Employers typically have specific procedures for reporting workplace accidents and require written notice from you within 30 days of the incident. Delaying or failing to report the incident and injury could jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim.
• Seek medical attention for your hand or finger injury. Ask your employer to direct you where to go and get medical treatment and go to that doctor. Preserving your health and safety should be your priority. After an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention for the injuries to your hands or fingers. Tell the emergency healthcare provider that your injury is work-related.
• File for benefits. Injured employees must also file Form 18 to start the workers’ compensation claim process. The form can be mailed or electronically filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to submit the form but it is best to get it filed as soon as possible.
• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Continue to seek medical treatment as needed and always follow your doctor’s instructions. Medical records are crucial evidence to support your hand and finger injury compensation claim.
• Seek legal representation. Get the help of an attorney who is experienced in negotiating compensation for hand injuries at work. Workers’ compensation claims can be complicated. Aggressive legal representation can make a significant difference in obtaining the benefits you deserve.

Do You Qualify for Workers’ Compensation After a Finger or Hand Injury in NC?

One of the most confusing aspects concerning hand and finger injuries in the workplace is knowing whether you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is an employer-paid no-fault insurance program that helps people injured on the job in Durham, Sanford, and across the state.

The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act requires nearly all employers with at least three employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance for full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. Independent contractors are typically excluded from workers’ compensation coverage. However, many workers misclassified as “independent contractors” are actually employees for workers’ compensation purposes.

If you are an employee, and a hand or finger injury occurs due to an accident or work-related task, chances are you are entitled to North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits.

How Common Are Hand and Finger Injuries in the Workplace?

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate hand and finger injuries in the workplace are extremely common. In one recent year, hand and finger injuries resulted in 82,725 days away from work, accounting for 18 percent of lost workdays.

What Are the Most Common Hand and Finger Injuries at Work?

From office work to manual labor, fingers and hands are essential for most workplace tasks, leaving them vulnerable to numerous injuries.

Some of the most common hand and finger injuries that occur at work include:

Some less severe injuries may require only limited medical treatment and time to heal. More severe injuries can significantly alter a person’s ability to perform their job and impact their long-term quality of life.

How Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Calculated for Hand and Finger Injuries

Workers’ compensation benefits generally cover an injured person’s medical expenses and replace a portion of their lost wages if their injury prevents them from working while they heal.

The specific value of a workers’ compensation settlement for a hand injury in Durham County or Lee County depends on the unique injury. Compensation and settlements are based on the severity of the injury, the extent of a person’s disability, and an impairment rating.

Workers’ compensation benefits for hand and finger injuries fall into several categories, including:

• Temporary total disability – Employees who cannot return to work while their hands or fingers heal may qualify for TTD benefits, which replace two-thirds of the individual’s average weekly wage, up to a statewide cap.
• Temporary partial disability – TPD benefits may be available to employees who can return to work but whose wages are less than their pre-injury wages due to light-duty restrictions. TPD benefits pay two-thirds of the difference between pre- and post-injury wages.
• Permanent total disability – PTD benefits are available only when the employee can never return to work or in cases of significant disability or deformity, such as the loss of both hands. Permanent disability payments are equal to two-thirds of the pre-injury average weekly wage but are subject to the state’s maximum rates.
• Permanent partial disability – When a doctor determines that a patient’s condition is not expected to improve significantly, PPD benefits may be available. North Carolina uses a schedule of injuries to assess a worker’s PPD benefits. For example, under this schedule, the loss or amputation of the first finger amounts to 66 2/3 percent of a worker’s average weekly wages over a 45 week period.

Talk to Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., About Your Workers’ Comp Claim

The Kornbluth Ginsberg team of workers’ compensation attorneys understands the significant toll a work-related hand or finger injury can take on an individual. Whether you are filing a broken finger at work claim or are seeking a wrist injury workers’ compensation settlement, we want to help. Our experienced workplace hand and finger injury lawyers are prepared to fight for maximum compensation for you.

Contact our Durham or Sanford office today to set up a free consultation with a workplace injury lawyer.