Salisbury Foot and Ankle Injury Lawyer

Any serious injury has the potential to be a life-changing experience, but injuries to the feet and ankles can be especially disruptive. If you recently suffered a foot and ankle injury at work or because of another party’s negligence, you may have grounds for legal action that can assist in your recovery. If someone else is responsible for causing a foot and ankle injury, you should not be left to bear the cost of treatment and the pain of recovery on your own. A Salisbury foot and ankle injury lawyer can assist you in taking full advantage of your options for legal recourse.

M. Reid Acree, Jr. is an experienced Salisbury, NC attorney who can provide the legal counsel you need. Foot and ankle injuries interfere with your ability to work and impose substantial medical expenses on you and your family. Whether you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury claim, or both, our firm can provide the ongoing legal counsel you need to navigate your recovery efforts successfully.

Why Should I Hire a Salisbury Foot and Ankle Injury Lawyer?

While you technically are not required to hire a lawyer after a foot or ankle injury, the right attorney can make a tremendous impact on the overall quality of your recovery from the incident. Instead of attempting to meet strict procedural requirements with the court, deal with difficult insurance companies, and handle your medical needs in recovery all at once, have an experienced legal team handle your case so that you can recover with peace of mind.

Your Salisbury foot and ankle injury lawyer can assist you in determining the best legal options available to you for securing compensation for your damages. If another party caused your foot or ankle injury in a car accident or some other form of negligence, you have options. Your attorney could help you construct a personal injury claim to hold them accountable. If your injury occurred at work, M. Reid Acree, Jr. has extensive experience with complex workers’ compensation claims and interpretation of the workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina. Some workers’ compensation claimants will also have the right to pursue civil claims in addition to their claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

Ultimately, you may have several options for recovery from your foot or ankle injury, and the right attorney will help you capitalize on your recovery options. M. Reid Acree, Jr. takes a client-focused approach to every case accepted. You can expect comprehensive and individualized legal counsel through all phases of the legal proceedings ahead of you, whether they entail a personal injury claim, a workers’ compensation claim, or both.

Most Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries occur every day in North Carolina due to various causes. Some of the most commonly reported incidents that cause foot and ankle injuries and generate personal injury cases include:

Motor vehicle accidents. Severe vehicle accidents can easily lead to many injuries, including broken bones, soft tissue damage, internal injuries, and much more. If you suffered a foot or ankle injury due to a negligent driver, your attorney could assist you in filing an auto insurance claim before proceeding with a civil lawsuit.
Slip and fall accidents. If you slipped, fell, and injured your foot or ankle on another person’s property, the property owner could face liability for your damages under the premises liability laws of North Carolina.
Assaults. If another person intentionally harmed you, they would be not only liable for your civil damages but also face criminal prosecution.
Workplace accidents. Virtually every employer in North Carolina is legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If your foot or ankle injury happened at work or while you were working, you likely have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Depending on who caused your accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim as well.

Foot and ankle injuries can be tremendously damaging. Not only are many of these injuries difficult to treat, but they also require extensive recovery time and often interfere with the victim’s ability to work. These injuries may require complex surgical treatment, and victims can be left unable to walk unassisted for extended periods of time. Many people who suffer foot and ankle injuries struggle with chronic pain years later. Depending on the type and severity of their injury, they may find it hard to handle everyday household tasks as well. The victim of a foot and ankle injury can easily face tremendous economic damages from their injury, and the right attorney can provide valuable reassurance and guidance in this difficult situation.

Potential Compensation for a Personal Injury Claim

If you have grounds to file a personal injury claim for your foot or ankle injury, you have the right to seek full repayment of all the economic damages you incurred due to the defendant’s actions. If another party caused your foot or ankle injury due to negligence or intentional misconduct, a personal injury claim can help. You could hold them responsible for your medical expenses, ongoing medical treatment costs, lost income, and lost future earning potential. An experienced Salisbury foot and ankle injury attorney can assist you in calculating your claimable economic damages.

North Carolina law also allows a personal injury plaintiff to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. Not only are foot and ankle injuries often very painful, but they can also present substantial challenges to the victim during their daily life. The amount the plaintiff receives in pain and suffering compensation typically depends on the severity of their injuries and the permanent medical complications they face as a result.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Foot and Ankle Injury

If you suffered a foot or ankle injury at work, North Carolina law allows you to file a workers’ compensation claim. A successful workers’ compensation claim can potentially cover the costs of all the medical treatments you require to recover. Additionally, you can qualify to receive disability benefits for the time you are unable to work. Disability benefits are typically paid in one of four possible ways:

A claimant can receive temporary total disability benefits if they cannot work at all until they recover from their foot or ankle injury. These benefits are typically paid at a rate of two-thirds of the claimant’s average weekly income.
The claimant could qualify for temporary partial disability benefits if they can still work following their injury, but they are unable to earn as much income due to their injury. Partial disability benefits for this type of situation can help make up for the loss in income.
A claimant may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits if their injury prevents them from returning to their previous job at all in the future but is able to train for and complete alternative, lower-paying work.
Claimants only qualify to receive permanent total disability benefits if they sustain a catastrophic injury and are unable to work at all in the future. Most insurance carriers prefer to resolve these claims with large lump sum “clincher” settlement offers.

In the event you qualify to receive partial disability benefits, you can continue working while you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are strict rules you must follow in this situation. You must report all of your earnings to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, and you can only perform work that you are medically able to handle safely. For example, if you claim workers’ compensation benefits due to inability to walk and are seen walking around your workplace a few weeks later, you could be accused of workers’ compensation fraud.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

While most injured workers are unable to sue their employers due to the workers’ compensation laws of North Carolina, there are potential exceptions to this rule. If your employer intentionally caused your injury in any way, or if they do not have workers’ compensation insurance as required by North Carolina law, you could have grounds for a civil claim against the employer. Alternatively, if a third party caused your foot or ankle injury while you were working, you would have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against the third party.

In the event you have grounds to file a civil lawsuit in addition to your workers’ compensation claim, it is essential to have experienced legal counsel on your side capable of guiding you through both of these processes successfully. A successful personal injury claim can potentially allow you to recover damages not covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, such as your pain and suffering.

Find Legal Counsel You Can Trust

M. Reid Acree, Jr. offers client-focused and compassionate legal counsel to victims of foot and ankle injuries in Salisbury, NC. These injuries can be incredibly disruptive to daily life in various ways, and you need experienced legal counsel on your side to maximize your total recovery. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with an experienced Salisbury foot and ankle injury attorney, contact M. Reid Acree, Jr. today to schedule a consultation.