After an injury at work in Gastonia, you may have paperwork in hand and still be unsure what your benefit rate means. Start with the wages used in the calculation. Then look at the forms or the disability rating that you want to discuss.
This page brings those reading topics together with local context for Gaston County and directions for an appointment in Charlotte. The North Carolina workers’ compensation guide explains the five forms discussed below. You can use it to put your paperwork and questions in order.
Gastonia and the surrounding Gaston County communities
Gastonia is the county seat of Gaston County. County government is at 128 W. Main Ave. in downtown Gastonia. The county also includes Belmont, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Cramerton, High Shoals, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo, Spencer Mountain and Stanley.
CaroMont Regional Medical Center, part of CaroMont Health, is in Gastonia. Keep any medical records with the paperwork you want to discuss.
Reading the North Carolina forms with your question in mind
For the five-form overview, go to the NC hub’s entries on Form 18, Form 19, average weekly wage / Form 22, the NC wage statement, Forms 60/61/63, and Form 25C.
When you are trying to understand the benefit rate, focus on average weekly wage. Keep the wage information and your question together as you read.
Questions about wages and payments
I work in Gastonia and do not understand the rate. Which guide should I use?
Look first at the wages behind the rate. Average weekly wage is the concept used to calculate it; the wage statement is the paperwork supplying that information. The average weekly wage guide is the place to read about that connection. Note which wage information you want explained.
What if I had just started a manufacturing job in Gastonia?
Use the companion guide on calculating workers’ comp for a new employee. Write down when you started the job and what you want explained about the wage calculation.
Where can I read if my payments have stopped?
The site has a guide on whether workers’ comp can stop paying you, including Form 23. Read it before you call if your payments have stopped.
Where people in the county work
The Charlotte Regional Partnership describes automotive, machinery and fabricated metal industries in Gaston County. Its list of the county’s industry clusters also includes textiles, chemical products, health services, livestock processing and government services. The county’s economic development commission lists public schools, the hospital system, county government, colleges and manufacturers among its major employers.
If you work in one of these industries or workplaces, describe the job you were doing when you were injured. If your question concerns wages, point to the wage information you have. If it concerns medical treatment or returning to work, put that topic on your list for the conversation.
Following the disability rating calculation
A permanent partial disability rating is a percentage. In Brad’s method, multiply that percentage by the applicable scheduled weeks. Multiply the result by the compensation rate to follow the rating calculation.
The calculation uses three inputs: the rating percentage, applicable scheduled weeks and compensation rate. Ask Brad to explain any input you do not understand.
For a settlement question, read the guide to North Carolina workers’ compensation settlement calculations and the guide to deciding whether to settle. Ask how the rating calculation fits into that discussion.
Working with a Workers’ Compensation Specialist from Gastonia
The contact point for this guide is The Law Offices of Bradley H. Smith, 3117 Whiting Avenue, Suite 211, Charlotte, NC 28205. Office visits by appointment only. Call (980) 281-9984.
Gastonia is a service area for the firm: clients from Gastonia are served from the Charlotte office, by appointment.
From the county government address on W. Main Ave. in downtown Gastonia, a routing estimate puts the drive to the Charlotte office at about 25 miles and roughly 40 minutes without traffic. Most of that route follows I-85. Use the estimate when planning an appointment and allow for traffic.
The route takes W. Main Ave. to NC 7, then I-85 north into Charlotte and NC 16, the Brookshire Freeway. It continues along E. 11th St., N. Davidson St. and Charles Ave. to Whiting Ave. If you start near US 321, it meets I-85 at Exit 17 in Gastonia.
Have the paperwork you want to discuss nearby when you call. Explain what happened at work, then say which part of the claim is unclear. You may want to discuss the wages used for your rate. If a rating or hearing request is your concern, raise that question at the start.
For a visit from Gastonia, ask how to arrange an appointment and what to bring. The contact page lists the Charlotte office information. You can also read about Bradley H. Smith as you prepare for the conversation.
Choose the point you want explained
You may want to discuss your average weekly wage, returning to work, or a second opinion on medical treatment. Write down what is unclear about that topic. Having a specific question gives you a place to start the conversation with Brad.
More reading for your questions
- North Carolina workers’ compensation overview
- Questions about stopped payments and Form 23
- North Carolina workers’ comp hearing requests
- The guide for Concord readers
- Watch Brad’s explanations in the Video Center
Bradley H. Smith. Certified as a specialist in workers’ compensation law by the North Carolina State Bar; licensed in NC and SC. No fee unless we recover. Call (980) 281-9984.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Gastonia clients meet with the firm?
Gastonia clients are served from the Charlotte office at 3117 Whiting Avenue, Suite 211, Charlotte, NC 28205. Office visits are by appointment only. Call (980) 281-9984 or use the contact page to arrange a visit.
How far is the Charlotte office from downtown Gastonia?
From the county government address at 128 W. Main Ave., a routing estimate puts the drive at about 25 miles and roughly 40 minutes without traffic, mostly along I-85. Your own starting point and traffic will change that.
Where should a Gastonia reader start with the North Carolina forms?
Start with the North Carolina workers’ compensation hub. It explains Form 18, Form 19, average weekly wage and the Form 22 wage statement, Forms 60/61/63 and Form 25C. If your benefit rate is the question, go next to the average weekly wage guide.
What should I ask about a disability rating for my Gaston County claim?
Ask to see the rating percentage, applicable scheduled weeks and compensation rate used in Brad’s calculation method. Multiply the percentage by the weeks, then multiply that result by the rate. This page explains the sequence without supplying the North Carolina schedule or an estimate for your claim. If you want to discuss settlement, ask how that calculation fits into the conversation.
Last updated: October 8, 2026.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case examples are shared with client details anonymized. This page is general information about North Carolina law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Talk to a lawyer about yours.