In mid-June, it was reported that a Duke Energy employee in North Carolina was shot while he was working on a residential line in the Charlotte area. This individual was critically wounded. He will need a lot of medical care, rehabilitation and time away from work to recover. As this happened while he was on the job, he may be entitled to collect workers’ compensation benefits to help him cover his losses.
What happened?
According to reports, a homeowner was in the middle of a renovation when she called Duke Energy to take down a line at her house. While working on the line at approximately 9:30 p.m. on June 18, the employee was robbed at gunpoint by two men. They ended up shooting him in the face then taking his phone and tobacco products. He was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
What happens now?
The road to recovery from this incident will be a long one. There is no saying, at this point, if the victim can expect a full recovery or if he will suffer from long-term physical and/or mental disabilities. He is not likely to get any compensation from those responsible for the incident, but as this qualifies as an act of workplace violence, he may seek relief by filing for workers’ compensation benefits. Depending on his ability to file for benefits, legal counsel or his loved ones may be allowed to submit a claim on his behalf.
What losses may be covered?
In any workers’ compensation case in North Carolina, medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation expenses may be covered, in full or in part, by an employer’s workers’ compensation provider. In this particular case, if this individual becomes temporarily or permanently disabled, he may also receive disability benefits and assistance finding more suitable employment if or when he can re-enter the workforce — among various other benefits. Achieving maximum compensation for his losses, even under these circumstances, may prove a difficult feat. Thankfully, he and his loved ones can turn to legal counsel for assistance fighting for fair workers’ compensation coverage.