South Carolina job accidents can have devastating outcomes. When an accident occurs at work, it is important victims understand their rights to pursue full and fair compensation for their losses. A job accident lawyer provides legal representation to victims. With more than 40 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys are uniquely qualified to assist all those harmed by on-the-job accidents. Our attorneys will fight for your rights to receive benefits and will answer important questions you may have including:
- What happens after South Carolina job accidents?
- What types of compensation can I receive after an accident on-the-job?
- How can a lawyer in South Carolina with experience handling job accidents help?
What Happens After South Carolina Job Accidents?
After a workplace accident, you should get medical assistance immediately. If your injuries are serious or life-threatening, emergency medical personnel should be called to take you to the nearest hospital.
Even when an accident does not appear to have caused critical injuries, you should get a medical exam. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover the costs of the exam and treatment. Except for critical emergency care, you are generally going to be required to see authorized care providers who have a relationship with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer. Talk with your supervisor or someone at your work before seeing a doctor to find out where to go for covered treatment, unless you need emergency medical help. You should get an exam after every accident because injuries that initially appear minor may turn out to be more serious or to cause persistent health problems. You want a record that these injuries are work-related.
As soon as possible, report your injury in writing to your employer. Prompt reporting of injuries is necessary to remain eligible for workers’ comp insurance benefits.
What Types of Compensation Do Victims Get After On-the-Job Injuries?
Workers compensation laws in South Carolina ensure that victims of on-the-job accidents receive:
- Medical treatment paid for by a workers’ comp insurer for all workplace injuries and illnesses.
- Loss of wages.
- Disability benefits for total or partial disability. Benefits may be permanent or temporary.
If a workplace injury results in the death of the employee, death benefits are available. Workers’ comp benefits are always available to workers, regardless of negligence. It does not matter if the employer did anything wrong or if the worker was to blame. Benefits should be provided after all South Carolina job accidents except in very limited cases such as when an employee was intoxicated.
You are not permitted to sue employers after workplace accidents, so may not receive compensation for non-financial loss like pain and suffering. However, third-party non-employers can be sued.
How Can a South Carolina Lawyer Help After Job Accidents?
After South Carolina job accidents, attorneys can assist with providing notice of injury to employers, understanding benefits you are eligible for, and making a work injury claim. An attorney will also help if benefits are denied, if your employer tries to make you go back to work before full recovery from injuries, or if your employer attempts any retaliation for a work injury claim. If you wish to pursue a case against a third party to receive additional monetary compensation, an attorney will help you to explore that option. We have extensive experience with workers’ compensation claims and with work injury litigation. Give us a call to get help after your on-the-job accident in South Carolina.
