After the mediation agreement is signed, the defense lawyers for the employer and the insurance carrier will prepare a full agreement detailing the worker’s injuries, medical treatments, the settlement terms and the language that says the employee releases the employer from liability once the agreement terms are fulfilled. It takes one or two weeks to prepare the full agreement. The full agreement is then sent by e-mail or regular mail to the employee’s lawyer for review. If your North Carolina worker’s compensation lawyer recommends it, he or she will advise you to sign the agreement and return it to his or her lawyer.
The employer’s attorney will then return the signed settlement agreements and the attorney fee agreement to the defense lawyer by regular mail or by e-mail. The fee agreement is executed by the employee when the employee retains the lawyer.
The employee’s attorney will then make sure the defense lawyer, the employer and the insurance carrier also sign the agreements. The fully executed settlement agreements, the fee agreement and a proposed Order authorizing payment under the terms of the agreement are then sent to a special office at the Industrial Commission. The defendants also pay the processing fees to the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
The Final Order is merely a short, one-page document which recites how much is to be paid by the defendants in full and final settlement of your claim, and your attorney’s fee, as agreed upon in your fee agreement with your attorney. If there were significant expenses incurred by your lawyer, such as expert fees, sometimes the defendants will agree to issue a separate, third check to cover expenses as part of the settlement of your claim.
Finally, if you are receiving ongoing workers compensation payments at the time of settlement, as part of the agreement, those payments typically continue until the date that the Commission enters the Final Settlement Order.
North Carolina Injured Worker Attorney Joe Miller Helps Injured Workers
An experienced North Carolina injured worker’s lawyer will make sure settlement agreements are done correctly. This means not only negotiating the right terms. It also means putting those right terms into writing and making sure all the formalities are met so that a proper Order can be entered and the employee can get the benefits he or she should. Joe Miller has helped thousands of workers. Make the call to speak with Joe Miller Esq. today by calling Joe Miller at 888-694-1671 and asking for Joe Miller or emailing him at jmiller@joemillerinjurylaw.com You can also submit the online form.
