Workplace injuries can have devastating consequences for many victims. Not only do you have medical issues related to your accident to deal with, you may be unable to work during your recovery. By going through workers’ comp, you can receive assistance dealing with the financial challenges accompanying severe injuries. However, many workplace accident victims find getting full coverage for their needs more difficult than anticipated.

At Hughey Law Firm, we offer the legal assistance South Carolina workplace injury victims need to proceed with their claims. Contact us to discuss your rights after workplace injuries.

Hughey Law Firm: The Help You Need to Navigate Your Workers’ Comp Claim

Hughey Law Firm AttorneysA workplace injury can feel overwhelming. You may not know what to do next or how to protect yourself. Hughey Law Firm offers the support you need to move forward with your claim as effectively as possible. We have handled hundreds of civil cases, including workers’ comp cases, and received recognition throughout the community for our commitment. We teach, lecture, and write about South Carolina’s personal injury law regularly.

Hughey Law Firm has received a number of professional accolades, including membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award, and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer ranking from the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Superior Service

At Hughey Law Firm, we believe in offering superior service to all our clients. We strive to create a positive experience for every client that goes above and beyond in providing for their needs. Our lawyers listen compassionately to the needs of our clients and fight to help protect their rights to the best of our ability.

Accessibility

At Hughey Law Firm, we have a policy of accessibility. We make our offices easily accessible to our clients and offer online meetings and consultations if necessary to fit their needs.

If you need to handle a workers’ comp claim in South Carolina, contact us at (843) 881-8644 to learn more.

South Carolina Workplace Injury Guide

South Carolina Workers’ Comp: The Benefits It Covers

South Carolina workers’ compensation should cover injuries you sustained at work. Workers’ comp insurance kicks in any time you suffer a workplace injury, whether the accident occurred as a fluke or due to the negligence of another party.

Medical Bills

Workers’ comp will generally cover your medical bills after an accident. Unlike a personal injury claim, a workers’ comp claim generally means the insurance provider will pay your medical bills directly. Typically, those bills will go straight to the insurance provider rather than you having to figure out how to cover them.

However, you may have to have approval from the workers’ comp insurance provider before you can pursue some types of medical care. Workers’ comp may require you, for example, to go through a less-invasive (and less expensive) procedure before you move forward with a more extensive one, even if you and your care provider feel that the more expensive procedure is the right choice for your needs.

Workers’ comp may also delay the approval of some procedures, dragging out your recovery. Having a lawyer on your side can make it much easier to establish the full extent of your injuries and the losses you faced.

Income Replacement

While you remain out of work due to your injuries, workers’ comp will pay approximately 66.6 percent of your average weekly income, up to the maximum average weekly income laid out by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Those payments will continue as long as you remain out of work or until you receive a permanent disability payment.

Permanent Disability Settlement

If you suffer permanent disability because of a workplace accident, including a disability that may permanently prevent you from returning to work, you may receive a permanent disability settlement.

You will receive compensation based on your average weekly wage, the severity of your injury and the disability rating you receive, and the statutory number of weeks assigned to your claim. If you need to pursue a permanent disability settlement, working with a lawyer offers a better chance of clearly laying out the damages you suffered and the compensation you deserve.

Fighting the Insurance Company After a South Carolina Workplace Injury

South Carolina Workplace Injury LawyerWhether you work for one of the biggest employers in South Carolina, from the University of South Carolina to Walmart, or a smaller employer, you may find that fighting the insurance company for the compensation you deserve after a workplace accident can prove more difficult than you think.

The insurance company may attempt to reduce the compensation it offers you or what it has to pay for after your accident.

  • The insurance company may claim that you did not get hurt at work or while performing your work duties. If your injuries occurred due to unrelated circumstances, you may not have the right to file a claim.
  • The insurance company may downplay the extent of your injuries. If the insurance company can show that you sustained more minor injuries than you claim, it can reduce the compensation it has to pay out.
  • The insurance company may cut off your benefits. Sometimes, you may even work with a care provider chosen by the insurance company that tries to pressure you into getting back to work before you physically can.
  • The insurance company may issue a settlement offer for your permanent disability that does not cover the full damages you sustained, leaving you without much-needed compensation that could help you rebuild after a life-altering injury.

By working with our South Carolina workers’ comp lawyers, you can feel much more confident about the outcome of your case, including the likelihood that you will receive the care you need and deserve. At Hughey Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive experience dealing with various workers’ comp claims and injury claims, and we can offer more information about what to do next.

South Carolina Workplace Injuries: What You Need to Know

Employers in the private industry report around 30,300 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses each year.

  • Most injuries occur in one of two sectors: trade, transportation, and utilities, and manufacturing.
  • Around 11,800 South Carolina workplace injuries resulted in days away from work. Eight thousand two hundred led to job transfers or restrictions.
  • The South Carolina workplace injury incidence rate falls at around 2.2 instances per 100 full-time workers, lower than the national average of 2.7.
  • Each year, between 63 and 139 workplace fatalities occur in South Carolina.
  • You may need to report a workplace injury within 90 days of the incident to receive workers’ comp support. If you do not file a claim within those 90 days, you may not receive any benefits related to the incident.

Dealing with a workplace injury can prove incredibly complicated, especially if you do not have clear evidence of when your accident occurred. A worker’s comp attorney like Hughey Law Firm can offer the support you need to navigate the claim process, get the support you deserve, and ultimately increase your compensation for a workplace accident.

What Do You Do After a Workplace Injury in South Carolina?

If you suffer injuries in a South Carolina workplace injury, the steps you take immediately after the incident can go a long way toward protecting your right to compensation and making it easier for you to get the support you need. Of course, your employer may have specific policies regarding the paperwork you must fill out and how to report your accident.

You may also, however, need to take other steps to help protect yourself.

  • Follow the instructions given by your medical care provider. With workers’ comp claims, keeping up with care provider instructions can prove particularly important since failure to follow those instructions could decrease or eliminate your benefits.
  • Keep track of all medical records to show evidence of what your care provider told you and the extent of your injuries.
  • Document interactions with your employer, including any times you get pressured to get back to work before you feel ready or before your doctor recommends that you start transitioning back.
  • Reach out to a workers’ comp lawyer as soon as possible to receive the support you need to move forward with your claim and learn more about your rights.

At Hughey Law Firm, we understand the challenges that can accompany a workers’ comp claim, and we work aggressively to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

attorney nathan hugheyIf you suffered injuries at work, you may deserve compensation for those losses. At Hughey Law Firm, we help workplace accident victims learn more about their rights and fight for fair treatment, whether you need help getting your medical bills covered after a workplace injury or you want to make sure that you maximize a permanent disability settlement. Contact us at (843) 881-8644 to discuss your next steps.

South Carolina Workplace Injury FAQ

 

How Do Workers’ Compensation Claims Differ From Personal Injury Claims in South Carolina?

Workers’ compensation claims involve several key differences from a standard personal injury claim.

  • Liability does not matter in workers’ comp cases. If you suffered an injury at work, whether because of your employer’s negligent actions, the actions of a visitor to the property, or even your negligence, you may have the right to file a workers’ comp claim.
  • Workers’ comp will pay for your medical bills directly rather than offering you a settlement that you can then use to cover the cost of your medical treatment and other related bills.
  • Workers’ comp will pay a percentage of your income over time rather than issuing a one-time settlement when you resolve the case.
  • A workers’ comp claim does not include compensation for pain and suffering, while most personal injury claims offer compensation in that area.

You may need approval from your workers’ comp insurance provider before you move forward with non-emergency treatment for workplace injuries. A lawyer can help you move through the approval process smoothly and effectively.

Can I File a Workers’ Comp Claim and Personal Injury Claim for the Same Injury in South Carolina?

You may have the right to file both a workers’ comp claim and a personal injury claim when someone else’s negligence leads to your workplace accident. Talk to a lawyer before determining whether you want to proceed with both claims and how they can impact you long-term.

In many cases, workers’ comp can place a lien on the personal injury settlement and require you to repay any funds spent on your medical care or wages, which may reduce the compensation you can recover through an injury claim.

Our South Carolina workers’ comp attorneys can explain your rights and options.

I Do Not Agree With the Course of Care Recommended by the Provider Issued to Me by Workers’ Comp in South Carolina. What Should I Do?

In some cases, the care provider selected by workers’ comp may not have the same view of your injuries or the challenges you face that you do. You might, for example, feel that you need more aggressive treatment or have suffered more severe injuries than the provider indicates.

A second opinion may give you a better idea of what support you need and what injuries you really have. If you have questions about the care protocol recommended by your care provider, or cannot get approval through workers’ comp for the treatments you know you need, contact an attorney to discuss your rights.

 

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

“Thank you Hughey Law Firm! It was a pleasure to work with you on my case! From the beginning, every contact I had with your firm was professional, kind, helpful, and painless! I always felt kept in the loop, and important to you as a client. If you are looking for a personal injury attorney with integrity, I would highly recommend Hughey Law Firm!”

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Karen C.
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South Carolina Office – Hughey Law Firm LLC

1311 Chuck Dawley Blvd. | Suite 201
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 881-8644