WORKERS' COMP OVERVIEW
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This page refers to Falls law in North Carolina.

Since laws differ between states, if you are located in South Carolina, please click here.

Workers' Compensation for Slips and Falls Injuries at Work in North Carolina

Slip and fall injuries are incredibly common – both inside and outside of the workplace. About 9.2 million people were treated at emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in 2016, according to the National Safety Council. The difference is that, when you’re injured in a fall at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

The law covers injuries that occur 1) by accident and 2) during the course and scope of employment. More than 27% of workplace injuries are caused by slips, trips, and falls according to data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Generally speaking, a slip and fall is treated like any other common workplace injury, and you make your workers’ compensation claim the same way. There are some well-known culprits that are responsible for slip and fall injuries, and some surprising rules that may make some of these injuries eligible for compensation – even if you wouldn’t think so!

What Causes Slip and Fall Injuries at the Workplace?

Most people don’t even think about the dangers of slipping and falling. Certain industries, like construction, are much more aware of it. But you don’t have to be on a job site to be hurt by a fall on the job. Everyone from builders to bankers could be at risk of serious injury or even death.

Here are some examples of the ways slip and fall injuries could occur. This is by no means an exhaustive list!

Gold icon of a tipped oil can creating a fall hazard on the floor.Leaks and Spills – Anything from water to coffee can make a surface slippery. Maybe there’s a leak in a pipe or from the climate control system. Maybe someone just fumbled their morning beverage. This can happen anywhere, including break rooms, kitchens, and even walk-in refrigerators.

Gold icon of a person falling on a slippery floor.Residue, Ice, or Drainage – Maybe there was an oily substance on the shop floor that wasn’t properly cleaned, or poor maintenance has led to puddles forming after a storm. Maybe some wet surfaces froze overnight, creating an icy layer. Maybe the landscapers were using blowers to clean the area and blew a bunch of sand onto the floor, making it slippery.

Gold icon of a person tripping on a raised curb.Trip Hazards – These are usually the most obvious things, and people still fall victim to them. Loose seams in carpet, tall thresholds at doorways, and even the welcome mat in front of a door can cause a fall.

Gold icon of a worker falling off defective scaffolding equipment.Faulty Equipment – For example, some scaffolding was improperly assembled and wobbles, causing a fall – or collapses entirely. Or, maybe the wheels in a typical office chair are stuck or broken, causing the chair to topple over when someone sits in it.

Gold icon of a wheelbarrow causing a collision.Collisions – Someone or something bumps into you and causes you to fall. The collision itself may not hurt you. But what if someone is pushing a wheelbarrow along a platform where you’re working and gives you a nudge, causing you to lose your balance? What if someone opens a door and you’re not expecting it, and you fall? Maybe someone bumps into you in a hallway while they’re watching their phone instead of where they’re going and you hit the tile floor.

No matter the cause, the point is that you accidentally and unexpectedly slipped and/or fell, and were injured as a result. Plus, if a hazard was caused by a third party, you may have an additional claim. For example, if a cleaning company hired to keep your office clean left a wet floor and no warning sign.

Meet Christopher, who got fired for taking too long to heal after being hurt at work: “I was so pleased with how the case was handled.”

Slip and Fall Injuries and the North Carolina “Coming and Going” Rule

In North Carolina, the law basically assumes everyone has to go to work, and so injuries you incur during your commute aren’t generally the responsibility of your employer – the risk is not particular to you or your employment. This is what’s known as the “Coming and Going” Rule (also sometimes written as the “Going and Coming” Rule). However, there are some exceptions and additional rules in the law that may make your slip and fall injury compensable.

The “Traveling Salesman” Exception

Normally, when you travel to and from work, it’s not considered part of your job, and therefore it isn’t covered under workers’ compensation law. But what if traveling is part of the job? Let’s say you are a salesperson or a tradesperson who travels to perform service calls. In either case, you’re traveling in the course of your job. If you slip and fall in the driveway or in someone’s house, you’re generally covered under the law.

Now, if you decided to take a detour to grab some lunch – which is not a work-related task – you may not be covered. Cases like these can be very circumstantial, and insurers may argue against compensation. We recommend that you consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney regarding your case.

The “Contractual Duty” Exception

This depends on the employer providing transportation or compensation for the employee traveling to and from work. For example:

  • A work van is provided to carry tools and such, and the employee is expected to go straight to work. Think HVAC technician, plumber, or network installer.
  • The company provides a company car for the employee to use to travel to the office or multiple offices.
  • The company compensates the employee for travel in the form of a mileage reimbursement.

In any of these cases, the company expects travel as part of the duty of the job – the employee is being compensated for their travel because it is part of their “contractual duty.”

In this case, you’re on the job as soon as you leave the house. Slip and fall injuries you suffer would likely be compensable. For example, if you stop to get gas, and slip and fall, the injury would likely be covered.

The “Special Errand” and “Dual Purpose” Rules

Sometimes, what you have to do for work coincides with something you have to do for yourself. There are rules that determine whether or not you’re covered in these cases.

The Special Errand Rule applies to people who are performing a duty beyond the normal requirements of their jobs and are injured during the course of that duty. Let’s say you’re directed by a supervisor to pick up items for an office gathering. The rule only applies if you’re performing a duty that benefits your employer. So, if you stop at the party store on the way home from work to pick up supplies for the office gathering, you may be covered if you fall while you’re at the party store.

The Dual Purpose Rule comes into effect when you’re doing something for work and doing something for yourself at the same time. For example, as an administrative assistant, you’re sent to ship some items for your boss. At the same time, you ship a gift to a relative. On your way into the Post Office or shipping store, you slip and fall on the sidewalk. In this case, you could be covered, because you were acting on behalf of your employer and not just yourself. The two actions happened to coincide.

Can I Sue My Employer for a Slip and Fall Injury at Work?

Generally, the answer will be no. Workers’ compensation law in North Carolina is written to ensure benefits for as many workers as possible with as few lawsuits as possible. This is an oversimplification, but basically, workers who are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits get those benefits (and employers agree to provide them) in lieu of a lawsuit to argue fault, etc.

It is worth noting that, in North Carolina, there are situations where a worker is not entitled to benefits – being intoxicated on the job, for example, generally bars the worker from receiving benefits from an injury resulting from their own intoxication.

If You Slip and Fall at Work…

Seek medical treatment for your injuries, notify your employer, and we recommend contacting an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney to discuss the circumstances of your case.

Slip and Fall Injuries While Working From Home in North Carolina

With more and more businesses allowing or enabling employees to work remotely from home, you might wonder. “Am I covered if I slip and fall while I’m working from home?” It’s not necessarily a new question, but it’s going to be asked a lot more.

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re covered for any accident at home. The requirements listed above still apply. You need to prove that you sustained a compensable accident that arose out of your employment and occurred during the course of your employment.

Think of “accidents” as unexpected interruptions of your normal work routine (i.e. you’re doing your job in the usual way; then something unusual happens).

When working from home, the accident must “arise out of your employment” to qualify. For example, if you’re working in a home office and trip on a rug while attempting to grab a work-related document off the printer, you may have a viable workers’ compensation claim. On the other hand, if you injure yourself while completing a personal errand at home during your workday, you might not. It all depends on the individual circumstances of your accident.

Finally, a compensable accident has to occur “in the course of your employment.” In other words, you have to be working in order to be hurt at work. When working remotely, little details can make a big difference. This includes the location of your workspace, your general work hours, and your employer’s requirements with respect to clocking in and out. The time, location, and circumstances of your injury are going to matter so it’s important that you understand these nuances.

If you’re working from home and suffer an injury, it’s probably in your best interests to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to discuss it.

How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You

A workers’ compensation attorney can provide three main services to those injured on the job:

Advocate for you. The first thing after an injury is to seek the medical treatment you need to recover and get back to your life. If you need to seek a second opinion, your attorney knows the proper procedures.

Fight to protect your rights: What happens when your friendly employer suddenly turns cold or the friendly insurance adjuster turns out to be protecting their employer’s bottom line? You turn to your attorney advocate to try to protect your best interests.

Give you informed advice. Should you take that settlement offer? Should you appeal a denial? Your attorney can be your guide every step of the way through a very complex process.

Learn More: Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

North Carolina Slip and Fall Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, and you believe you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Why us? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3:

  1. The number of former State Senators we have as part of our talented workers’ compensation roster of attorneys. Doug Berger helped write some of the very laws that may impact your case!
  2. Number of former Commissioners from the North Carolina Industrial Commission (the workers’ comp court) on our team. Inside knowledge can be powerful.
  3. The number of years running we’ve been named a “Best Law Firm” for workers’ comp in the greater Raleigh area by U.S. News: 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.4

Did You Know? U.S. News named James Scott Farrin a “Best Law Firm” for 2024!4

We have several North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in workers’ compensation law on our team, and we’re ready to fight for everything you’re entitled to under the law. Submit our online form or call us at 1-866-900-7078 anytime, 24/7, for a free case evaluation.

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