Charlotte Firefighter Injury Lawyer

Charlotte Firefighter Injury Attorney

The Charlotte Fire Department operates from its headquarters on Dalton Avenue and from multiple stations throughout the metropolitan area. When fires break out, firefighters are responsible for one of the most difficult and most dangerous jobs, and it is possible for them to suffer serious injuries in various ways. If this has happened to you, a Charlotte firefighter injury lawyer at Ayers, Ayers & Dressler can help with your recovery.

Representing Injured Firefighters in Charlotte, NC

The attorneys at Ayers, Ayers & Dressler have years of experience representing injured workers in their workers’ compensation claims in Charlotte and the surrounding areas of North Carolina. We know the unique dangers that firefighters face and the complex legal situations that may follow any injury on the job or a diagnosis with any firefighting-related occupational disease.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that in 2023, there were 63,175 firefighter injuries in the line of duty throughout the United States. Of these injuries, 18,875 occurred in active firegrounds. Firefighters can also sustain injuries while driving to and from firegrounds or during training exercises, and it is possible for them to be diagnosed with various occupational diseases, including cancers, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

Our firm’s goal in every work injury case we accept is to help our client recover as fully as North Carolina law allows. We can help you file your workers’ compensation claim, determine whether you are eligible for any special benefits programs reserved for firefighters in North Carolina, and build a personal injury case for you if necessary to ensure the fullest possible recovery.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Charlotte

North Carolina enforces robust workers’ compensation laws, and most employers in the state are required to have this insurance. When an employee suffers any type of injury while performing their job duties or develops an occupational disease from performing their job duties, they are usually eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim to seek benefits that can help them recover.

This may sound straightforward, but many injured workers in Charlotte and the surrounding communities of North Carolina encounter complications that they are unable to resolve on their own. If you are hurt on the job while fighting fires, you need to hire a firefighter injury lawyer who understands the unique legal issues that might complicate your recovery process.

After any work-related injury or after diagnosis with a work-related illness, the worker should report the issue to their supervisor and seek medical treatment right away. They can see any available doctor in an emergency, but they will likely need to see a workers’ compensation doctor for a functional capacity evaluation as part of their claim-filing process.

During this evaluation, the workers’ compensation doctor will determine the severity of the claimant’s injury and assign a disability rating that reflects their remaining functional capacity to work. This rating will determine how much they can receive in benefits. After completing the evaluation, the worker can file their claim with their employer’s insurance carrier.

A successful workers’ compensation claim in North Carolina typically provides two forms of compensation to the injured worker. The insurance company pays for all of the medical treatment the worker needs for their injury, and they will pay ongoing disability benefits during the time the worker is unable to perform their job duties due to their injuries. Additional penalties could be paid if the worker has suffered any type of catastrophic and permanently disabling injury.

Pursuing Further Compensation for a Firefighter Injury in Charlotte

In North Carolina, an injured worker usually cannot sue their employer for a work-related injury or illness, as workers’ compensation insurance is meant to function as a sole remedy in these cases. However, if a third party outside of your work is directly responsible for injuring you, it could form grounds for a third-party personal injury case.

If you have grounds to file this type of civil claim, you could potentially recover compensation for damages that workers’ compensation insurance does not cover, such as pain and suffering. Ayers, Ayers & Dressler can also provide compassionate legal counsel if a family member has died while fighting a fire in Charlotte or if they died from any firefighting-related occupational illness.

The NFPA reported 62 fatal firefighter injuries in the United States during 2024, and 51 of these occurred on active firegrounds. Workers’ compensation insurance in North Carolina can provide death benefits to the surviving family of a fatally injured firefighter, and it is also possible to have grounds for a wrongful death claim if a specific party caused their fatal injury.

What to Expect From Your Charlotte Firefighter Injury Lawyer

Any firefighting injury can be life-changing. The victim could face very expensive medical treatment combined with further economic strain from the inability to work. This can quickly create a difficult financial situation for them and their family. Additionally, it is possible for the injured firefighter to encounter disputes with employers or insurance carriers in their efforts to recover compensation.

It is also possible for an injured firefighter to qualify for special benefits programs in North Carolina. Ultimately, you may have more legal options available to you than you realize after your firefighting injury in Charlotte, but you need to have skilled legal counsel on your side to maximize your compensation.

When you choose the team at Ayers, Ayers & Dressler to represent you, we can thoroughly examine all of your legal options in the aftermath of your injury. We know how to negotiate fair workers’ compensation benefit determinations on behalf of our clients in Charlotte, and we can also provide comprehensive legal support for any recovery efforts you can pursue outside of the workers’ compensation system.

Our team provides compassionate and results-driven legal counsel to injured firefighters in Charlotte and the surrounding communities of North Carolina. We are confident we can guide you to a positive conclusion to your case, but you need to hire a firefighter injury lawyer right away to have the greatest chance of success with your recovery. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a Charlotte firefighter injury lawyer you trust.