Charlotte Foot and Ankle Injury Lawyer

Any physical injury can be painful, require extensive treatment, and interfere with the victim’s life in various ways. Injuries to the feet and ankles are especially debilitating, hindering the victim’s mobility and preventing them from working efficiently or even handling household tasks. Some foot and ankle injuries are severe enough to require ongoing treatment, and others result in permanent damage.

Legal Representation for Foot and Ankle Injury Claims in Charlotte, NC

If you recently sustained a foot or ankle injury in Charlotte, NC, it’s natural to wonder whether you have many options for recovering the resulting damages. If your injury happened at work or while you were working, you likely have grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim to seek medical expense coverage and disability benefits while you cannot work. If another party caused your foot or ankle injury outside of your workplace through an act of negligence or intentional misconduct, you would have grounds for a personal injury claim against them.

Ultimately, it’s possible to face a wide range of complex legal proceedings after a foot or ankle injury someone else caused. Navigating these issues will be much easier with an expert attorney assisting you. M. Reid Acree, Jr. has a great deal of experience helping North Carolina clients with complex workers’ compensation cases and personal injury claims pertaining to foot and ankle injuries. If you need legal counsel after a foot or ankle injury in the Charlotte, NC, area, we can help you determine your best legal recovery options.

Why You Need a Charlotte Foot and Ankle Injury Lawyer

Hiring the right attorney will make a tremendous difference in the quality of your case’s outcome. A good lawyer will review exactly how their client’s injury occurred and assess the resulting damages. When you select M. Reid Acree, Jr. as your lawyer for a foot and ankle injury claim, our team can assess whether you can file a workers’ compensation claim and guide you through the process. In addition, when you must file a civil action against another party for any type of foot or ankle injury, we can also guide you through this process.

Generally, injured workers cannot sue their employers for injuries suffered at work unless their employers intentionally caused those injuries somehow. Alternatively, an injured worker could have grounds for a third-party liability claim if some other party caused their workplace injury. For example, the victim could claim workers’ compensation if the injury happened while performing their job duties. However, if a third party caused the injury, the victim would also have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Whatever your situation entails, you will be better prepared to handle the difficult proceedings ahead of you and will likely receive a favorable outcome if you have an experienced Charlotte foot and ankle injury attorney handling your case. M. Reid Acree, Jr. takes time to learn as much as possible about each client’s unique situation. We identify the challenges and opportunities present in their case and determine the best legal options for recovering their losses. Our firm has successfully represented many foot and ankle injury claims pertaining to workers’ compensation, personal injury, and both types of claims filed in tandem.

Workers’ Compensation for Workplace Foot and Ankle Injuries

North Carolina law requires all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. When employees suffer injuries while working, they can file claims for coverage to their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance carriers. The claim process is relatively straightforward, and employers are legally required to provide injured employees with the materials they need to file their claims. Employers cannot interfere with injured workers’ claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

A successful workers’ compensation claim in North Carolina yields two forms of benefits to the claimant. The first is full coverage of their medical expenses. Workers’ compensation insurance carriers will generally cover the costs of all medical treatments a claimant requires to heal from their injury and manage their symptoms. In addition, if the claimant cannot work during their recovery, they can qualify to receive disability benefits, typically paid at a rate of two-thirds of the claimant’s average weekly wage for the year before the injury.

In North Carolina, disability benefits for workers’ compensation claims are awarded based on the severity of an injury and the length of time required to heal:

• Temporary partial disability compensates an injured worker when they cannot earn as much income due to their injury or if they must take lower-paying work due to their injury.
• Temporary total disability compensates injured workers who cannot work during their recoveries.
• Permanent partial disability benefits can compensate a claimant who has permanently lost functional capacity in a manner that diminishes their ability to earn income. These benefits can offset the difference in their future earnings after their injury.
• Permanent total disability benefits are only awarded to claimants who suffer catastrophic injuries causing severe permanent harm.

An experienced Charlotte foot and ankle injury lawyer can help their client obtain the best possible benefits determination from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. In some cases, insurance companies request supporting documentation to approve a claim; in other cases, they offer lowball offers well below what claimants should legally expect. It’s also possible for a workers’ compensation insurance carrier to deny a claim by citing the claimant caused their injury through some workplace violation, such as working under the influence of alcohol.

M. Reid Acree, Jr. routinely assists Charlotte, NC, area clients with difficult workers’ compensation cases, and our team can leverage this experience in your case. An experienced attorney is an ideal asset for any injured worker who must file a civil claim in response to their workplace foot or ankle injury. Additionally, our team can assist you in exploring any options for legal recourse you may have beyond the workers’ compensation system.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Foot or Ankle Injuries

While workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina usually prevent injured employees from filing suits against employers for their injuries in the workplace, some exceptions to this rule exist. For example, suppose an employer or co-worker intentionally caused the injury or an egregious workplace safety violation caused the injury. In that case, the victim may have grounds for civil action against their employer. It’s also possible for a third party to bear liability for a work-related injury.

When a third party is responsible for the foot or ankle injury you recently suffered while performing work-related duties, you would have the right to file a claim for workers’ compensation and a civil personal injury claim against the party who caused the injury. Therefore, it’s vital to find an attorney who is experienced in workers’ compensation claims and personal injury cases if this applies to your situation.

Regardless of whether your personal injury claim is related to a workers’ compensation claim or it is a standalone civil issue, your Charlotte foot and ankle injury lawyer is the best asset to have on your side when it comes to maximizing your recovery and holding the party who caused your injury accountable for their actions. Succeeding in a personal injury claim requires identifying the party or parties you deem liable for your injuries, demonstrating the entirety of your claimable damages, and proving those damages only occurred because of the defendant’s negligence.

Damages and Compensation in North Carolina Personal Injury Claims

Workers’ compensation generally yields coverage for injured workers’ medical expenses and ongoing disability benefits while recovering. This claim may provide valuable relief after a severe foot and ankle injury, but it may not fully compensate the victim’s losses. When someone with a foot or ankle injury has the appropriate grounds to make a claim for their personal injury, they can obtain a more expansive recovery.

North Carolina’s personal injury statutes allow personal injury plaintiffs to claim compensation for all economic losses suffered because of a defendant’s actions. The most commonly cited economic damages in Charlotte, NC, personal injury claims include:

• Medical treatment costs. Many foot and ankle injuries require immediate medical care and ongoing treatment to manage symptoms, enhance recovery, and restore lost functional capacity to the victim. If you succeed with your personal injury claim, you can hold the defendant accountable for all medical expenses you incur because of their actions, including anticipated future treatment costs.
• Lost income. When a defendant’s actions result in injuries severe enough to prevent victims from working, those victims can seek recompense for their lost income and lost future earning potential. Your Charlotte foot and ankle injury lawyer can assess the impact your injury has had on your ability to work and earn income, allowing you to hold the defendant accountable for these immediate and future losses.
• Property damage. When a defendant caused a car accident or other incident that caused not only a foot or ankle injury but also property loss, the victim could include repair or replacement costs as economic damages in their civil action.

While some plaintiffs may be able to accurately assess immediate damages like hospital bills and vehicle repair costs on their own, calculating more complex damages like anticipated future treatment costs and lost future earning capacity requires the assistance of an experienced attorney. Working with experienced legal counsel is the best way for anyone to maximize their recovery from a personal injury claim.

On top of economic damages, plaintiffs in North Carolina personal injury claims may also seek recompense for non-economic damages caused by the defendant, specifically their emotional distress as well as their physical pain. This may sound difficult to quantify in terms of monetary compensation. Still, an experienced lawyer can help their client determine a reasonable figure based on how serious their foot or ankle injury is and whether they face permanent complications. In addition, North Carolina law does not limit the amount a plaintiff can seek in pain and suffering compensation. Therefore, this type of compensation could form the bulk of a plaintiff’s recovery if they sustained a severe and permanently damaging injury.

Anyone who intends to file a personal injury claim in North Carolina must understand the state’s law of contributory negligence if they have any reason to suspect they could be partially at fault for their claimed damages. Under the contributory negligence statute, a plaintiff cannot recover damages if they bear even slight partial fault for causing their claimed damages. Therefore, if you have any concerns about whether you could face partial liability for your foot or ankle injury, it is very important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

What to Expect From Charlotte Foot and Ankle Injury Attorneys

When you select M. Reid Acree, Jr. as your Charlotte foot and ankle injury attorney, you can expect comprehensive and client-focused legal representation throughout all stages of your case. Attorney Acree is ready to assist you if you must file a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury claim, or both to fully recover your losses. Our team has successfully represented many past clients in foot and ankle injury claims, often recovering more substantial compensation than clients initially expected.

Our firm can carefully review the details of your foot or ankle injury, identifying the parties that may bear liability for your damages and assisting you in accurately calculating those damages. We’ll ensure your case meets all procedural requirements. If you can file for workers’ compensation benefits, we can streamline the claim and benefits determination processes as much as possible so you can secure the benefits you need quickly. If you have grounds for further legal action or need to file a personal injury claim for your foot or ankle injury, we can also assist with this.

The sooner you speak with a Charlotte foot and ankle injury lawyer about your case, the greater your chances of successfully securing a recovery. You can confidently approach your foot or ankle injury case when M. Reid Acree, Jr. is representing you. Contact us today to learn more about our firm’s legal services and schedule your consultation with a well-experienced Charlotte foot and ankle injury attorney.