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Does the “dual capacity” theory apply to workers’ compensation?

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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Workers’ compensation offers what can broadly be thought of as a “win-win” outcome for injured workers and their employers: the worker benefits from having a relatively speedy forum through which to receive benefits for lost income and for medical expenses, while the employer has a way to avoid being the…

State Agency Physicians

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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During the preliminary stages of a social security disability claim, an individual’s medical records will be evaluated by a physician retained by the Social Security Administration to assist in deciding whether an individual is disabled. For this reason, it is very important that your treating physicians provide as much information…

Should you be “Mirandized” in a workers’ compensation claim?

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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“You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” If you have ever watched a television police drama, you probably already know those words by heart as you have…

Recent court decision highlights scope of workers’ compensation

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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Most people associate workers’ compensation benefits with injuries suffered in a workplace accident. Fewer people might associate a claim under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act with compensation for being wrongfully convicted in a criminal case, but that issue was recently in front of the Court of Appeals. As it…

What is a Severe Impairment?

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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Social Security Ruling 96-3(p) states that impairment is considered severe if it “significantly limits an individual’s physical or mental ability to do basic work activities.” To be “non-severe,” an impairment must be a slight abnormality that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work…

Substantial Gainful Activity From Self-Employment

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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Social Security Ruling 83-33 provides that work will be considered substantial gainful activity if it meets one of three tests: 1) Rendering significant services to or receiving substantial income from a business; 2) Comparing the work to perform to that unimpaired people in similar business or occupations; 3) What is…

Several workers’ comp violations reported in North Carolina

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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If you’ve picked up a newspaper or watched the news recently in North Carolina, you have likely seen reports of several ongoing investigations into violations of workers’ compensation laws by area employers. These probes are in progress while the North Carolina House of Representatives is holding hearings on fraudulent employee…

Steps in Determining Disability

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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In evaluating whether an individual is disabled, the Social Security Administration applies what is called a sequential evaluation process. The first step is to determine whether the person is engaging in substantial gainful activity. Simply stated, this means earning too much money. If so, the claim is denied. If not,…

Social Security Disability in cases of permanent disability

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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People normally associate an on-the-job injury with workers’ compensation benefits. Social Security Disability is another government benefit program that is available to someone prevented from working due to an injury or medical condition. Unlike workers’ compensation that would pay a Charlotte, North Carolina, worker who is partially disabled due to…

May I choose my own doctor when receiving workers’ compensation?

On Behalf of Christian Ayers
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Most employees in North Carolina are covered by workers’ compensation insurance for workplace injuries and work-related occupational disease. Workers’ compensation benefits for medical expenses, lost wages and disability are payable without the necessity of a lawsuit against an employer. One of the tradeoffs associated with workers’ compensation is limitations it…