SMITHFIELD OFFICE
One Courthouse Square
P.O. Box 119
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6187
CLEVELAND/GARNER OFFICE
5842 Hwy 42 West
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 661-2005
Raleigh Worker's Compensation Lawyer
Work Injuries/Workers' Compensation
Attorney Representation in Raleigh, North Carolina Since the 1960's
Workers’ Compensation “Reform” Shifts Costs from Insurance Companies to Taxpayers
Because of the power shift in the North Carolina General Assembly, insurance companies are once again lobbying the legislature to make major changes to the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. Insurance companies give two main reasons as the basis for their reform:
- (1) workers’ compensation premiums are too high, and
- (2) workers’ compensation costs impact business recruitment or job creation in North Carolina.
Unfortunately, neither of these insurance company claims is true. From 2008 to 2010, workers’ compensation premiums in North Carolina have dropped by 15%, and are lower than Ohio, Texas, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, California, and New York, which are states that have already passed reforms. North Carolina workers’ compensation premiums are also consistently the middle of the national average. Regarding North Carolina’s business climate, during 2010, North Carolina ranked 3rd in the nation for declining unemployment and 4th in the nation for job creation. For the ninth year, North Carolina was the state with the Best Business Climate in 2010, according to Site Selection magazine. In similar ratings by CEO magazine, Forbes, CNBC, Pollina Corporate Real Estate and Business Facilities magazine, North Carolina ranked second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, for its pro-business climate. (Deuterman; See www.nccommerce.com for complete information on each of these rankings.)
Our Workman's Compensation Attorney Has Extensive Knowledge
Although the exact provisions of the reform legislation have not yet been published, it almost certainly will include the same types of provisions that the insurance companies have tried to push before, the most significant of which is a limit on the length of time that a person can receive workers’ compensation benefits. Presently, there is no limit on the length of time that a person totally disabled because of a work injury can receive benefits. However, in past attempts at reform, the insurance companies have pushed for a 500 week limit on workers’ compensation benefits.
Think about this: If a person is totally disabled because of a work injury, but his or her benefits stop after 500 weeks, WHO picks up the bill for supporting that person after the 500 weeks are up? That’s right, the taxpayer. Most disabled workers will end up on Social Security, SSI Disability, Medicare, Medicaid or Food Stamps. Those savings will go right into the insurance companies’ pockets.