We Handle Workers Compensation Lawsuits in South Carolina
The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC represent injured workers, as well as their families, in the pursuit of workers’ compensation injury benefits. Most employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance is intended to cover your medical bills and lost wages should you become injured at work. While many workers’ comp claims are fairly straightforward and handled easily, sometimes insurance companies or employers attempt to deny legitimate claims or offer compensation far below the amount you are entitled to. In these cases, it’s critical to have an attorney on your side who is familiar with the laws and procedures involved in seeking compensation for your workplace injuries and work-related accidents.
Whether you were injured at a construction site, by defective machinery, by a burn accident or any number of other work-related accidents, we can assist you in getting the compensation you are entitled to. Our workers comp lawyers are experienced in seeking justice on behalf of employees who have been injured or killed on the job, whether they work for private companies or local, county, city, and state governments.
How The Strom Law Firm, LLC Can Help With Your Workers Compensation Injury
Being out of work due to a job-related injury or illness entitles you to workers’ compensation benefits in South Carolina. Not only do we help our clients get the compensation they are owed, but we also help in a variety of other areas. We can help you if:
- You were denied benefits for a workers compensation claim
- You need help obtaining medical treatment for your job-related injury or illness
- You need help negotiating a fair and equitable settlement for your on-the-job injury
- You need help pursuing a claim against a third party who caused and/or contributed to your workplace injury
Located in Columbia, SC and Spartanburg, SC our law firm offers free consultations with a workers’ comp injury lawyer to evaluate your claim and help you determine your best course of action. Call 803.252.4800 for complete details.
Types Of Injuries Often Associated With Workers’ Compensation Claims
Physical Work-Related Injuries
This category covers any type of bodily injury. A physical injury can result from an accident at the workplace or while traveling for work. It can also stem from the negligence of a third-party, an equipment malfunction, or an environmental condition.
Common physical injuries include:
- Burns and injuries suffered in fires and explosions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and Back injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Amputation
- Falls
- Internal or external chemical burns
- Poisoning
- Fractures
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Eye injuries and blindness
Work-Related Repetitive Injuries
A repetitive injury is physical damage that accumulates over time as you perform your job. The injury occurs from continued wear and tear that results in physical trauma over time. The nature of repetitive injuries make them more complex than a standard work accident, and you may need the support of an experienced work-related injury lawyer to help you properly resolve your claim.
Repetitive injuries can stem from repeated lifting, typing or data entry, frequent reaching and bending, and other regular, consistent movements you make while performing your job. Common repetitive injuries include:
- Back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis and golf elbow
- Ganglion cyst
Occupational Illnesses and Diseases
An occupational disease is one you acquire because of what you are exposed to while on the job, such as exposure to hazardous work-related materials, or a disease contracted because of your work in a hospital.
Common occupational illnesses and diseases include:
- Asbestosis from exposure to asbestos
- Lung disease from inhaling toxic dust or other irritants
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Fertility issues due to chemical exposure
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Nuclear radiation exposure
Hard-to-Prove Workplace Injuries
Some work-related injuries are more difficult to prove, though they do occur. These types of workplace injuries require more evidence and support than standard workers compensation claims. An experienced personal injury workers comp lawyer can help you build your hard-to-prove claims.
Hard-to-prove claims can include:
- Mental and emotional issues from extreme or unusual work conditions or from an ongoing work injury
- Work-induced heart attacks
- Work-related strokes
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Work-Related or On-the-Job Deaths
Thousands of workers die each year in work-related accidents. If you have lost a loved one as a result of a work injury in South Carolina, you may be entitled to death benefits under The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. A workplace death carries with it extreme and devastating consequences for the family of the deceased. There may be outstanding medical bills stemming from the accident, plus funeral costs and the loss of wages that the family would have received if not for the fatal accident or death from a work-related illness.
What You Should Do If You Are Injured at Work
Many workers’ compensation claims are simple and uncontested. Unfortunately, some claims are denied, even when they are legitimate. That’s where the worker’s comp lawyers at Strom Law Firm, LLC can be of service. There are also steps you should take to ensure you protect your rights and don’t jeopardize the compensation you are entitled to.
Report the Injury
When you are hurt at work, it is critical that you report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Generally, you have up to 90 days from the point of the accident to report your injury, but, to best support your claim, the sooner you report your injury the better.
Seek Medical Attention
Your employer should direct you to a physician who will evaluate the extent of your work injuries. If your employer does not schedule an appointment for medical treatment, you should immediately obtain medical treatment and an evaluation of your condition from a medical doctor so that you can begin documenting the extent and severity of your injury.
Be a Responsible Patient
Follow all of your doctor’s treatment advice. If you do not understand a treatment protocol, just ask. Be honest about the nature and extent of your injury with your doctor. (Fraudulent claims are taken very seriously and a false statement may result in criminal prosecution.) Similarly, make sure that you clearly and fully report each problem that you are experiencing to your physician.
Protect Yourself From a Dispute
If you are hurt at work in South Carolina, do not feel compelled to volunteer information that does not have anything to do with your injury. For example, if you are dealing with lower back pain from a fall that occurred last week, there is no reason to tell your doctor that you once had lower back pain for a two week period ten years ago when you have not experienced continuing back pain.
Get a Second Opinion
Remember that your employer or their insurance company likely has an ongoing relationship with the physician that they are sending you to. Given this relationship, depending upon the severity and extent of your injuries, it often makes sense to attempt to obtain a second opinion or independent medical opinion.
Maintain Good Records
Track important dates related to your injuries, such as injury occurrence, date of report, and conversations regarding your injury. Keep all receipts for medical treatment, medications, travel-related expenses, including miles driven to see your doctor, and any other costs related to your injury so that you will be fully reimbursed if your comp claim is approved by the insurance carrier.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Workers’ compensation covers any medical bills incurred to diagnose and treat the injury or illness you acquired while working, either at the workplace, job site or traveling while working. Benefits can also cover lost wages from the period you were out of work due to your injury. In cases of permanent and debilitating injuries or illnesses, workers’ comp covers the ongoing medical bills you will incur, as well as long-term wage compensation.
If your workers’ compensation claim has been delayed or denied, or if you are having trouble getting the compensation you deserve, you have rights. Navigating the dispute on your own can be frustrating and difficult. Instead, relying on the experience of a skilled workers’ comp lawyer can help you get the benefits and compensation you are entitled to.
Call Today for a Free Workers Comp Consultation
The Strom Law Firm, LLC understands the impact that a work-related accident, injury, or illness has upon you and your loved ones. The most important thing you need to focus on is a speedy recovery. Let our team be the advocates who will seek justice on your behalf. Call 803.252.4800 to discuss the facts of your case or to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We’re here to help.
