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Workers’ Compensation
HawkLaw Fights for Greenville
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Greenville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

An on-the-job injury or illness can cost you more than your health. It can also cost you your financial stability and your position at work. If you’ve been injured and you need help getting your work comp benefits, reach out to a Greenville workers comp attorney.

When someone slips up or a machine malfunctions, the results can be painful. You were working one moment, and the next, you’re being carted off to the hospital. It’s unfortunate, and it can be pricey, too. Unfortunately, if you don’t have work compensation, or if you’re denied coverage and don’t fight back, you can be paying for it for a long time.

That’s why you’ll need to act fast to get that workers comp. You and your family are struggling, and you need help recovering. If you’re not sure where to begin or how to take action, you need a Greenville workers comp lawyer from HawkLaw, PA on your side. Appealing your denial may be complicated, but we can help you get the compensation you need for a full recovery.

Common Work Accidents

Unfortunately, no workspace is completely safe. We might think job positions like an electrician or job sites like construction zones are dangerous, perhaps, but even an office job comes with hazards, like slippery floors or broken stairs. As such, there’s always a possibility that you could suffer an accident, no matter what your workplace.

If you’ve suffered any of the following workplace injuries, you should seek workers compensation:

  • Slip-and-fall accidents
  • Falls from a height
  • Injuries caused by heavy machinery
  • Overexertion accidents
  • Electrocutions

Am I Eligible for Workers Comp?

You know you’ve been badly injured, but do you know whether you’re eligible for workman’s compensation benefits? Unfortunately, it can be tough to tell if your employer isn’t clear about whether they offer it. While all South Carolina employers who do carry this insurance must display information about those benefits, that’s not always helpful if you don’t work in a traditional workplace.

Fortunately, most South Carolina workers should be eligible for workers compensation. State law requires almost all employers with more than four employees to carry this insurance. If they don’t carry it, they could face fines for every day they don’t have work comp coverage.

Unfortunately, there are a few workers who won’t have this coverage. For example, many agricultural workers may not be covered, and if you’re considered a casual employee, you may have to seek compensation outside of work comp benefits.

If you’re not sure whether you’re covered or not, you’ll need to check as soon as possible. You’ll only have ninety days to file, and if you don’t act quickly enough, you could lose your chance to recover. So, if you’re concerned that you’re not eligible, act now before your time runs out.

Work Comp Benefits Offered in South Carolina

Once you’ve determined whether you’re eligible to file, you’ll also need to determine what your claim is worth. While the insurance provider will calculate your claim’s worth, knowing what to expect ahead of time means that you’ll know if you’re not being offered the full settlement you’re owed.

First, make sure that your medical benefits are completely covered. Any expenses related to the accident, including the future costs of surgeries or rehabilitation, should be part of your medical care benefits. So, if you suffered head trauma and you’re unable to function as you once did, your medical care benefits should cover your initial care and your future therapy.

If you lost a loved one in a work accident, you should also receive some benefits. Typically, these death benefits will provide two-thirds of your loved one’s wages to you. If you are a spouse, these benefits usually last until you remarry.

Types of Disability Benefits

If you’re unable to work or unable to work in the capacity you did before your injury, you should also receive disability benefits. These benefits cover the lost wages you would have received if you had been able to continue working. These benefits may be long-term or short-term, and they’ll be either partial or total.

Your injuries can vary in severity, and your benefits should vary to match that. The length of time you’re unable to work will make a difference in your coverage. For example, a broken bone may take months to heal, but this is still a short amount of time in comparison to some injuries, like spine injuries, which can cause permanent damage that may take years to recover from.

Whether you’re able to return to work at all will also matter. A serious injury may leave you unable to return to work at any point, and you should receive two-thirds of your original wages while you’re healing. A partial disability may make your original job impossible, but you’ll be able to return to some duties. In this case, you’ll receive a diminished paycheck and benefits to cover some of the differences in your income.

Getting Your Workers’ Compensation

When you’ve been injured, you know you need your compensation, but how do you fight for it? Before you get started on your workers comp claim, you’ll need to understand what happens once you first report your injury and begin the work comp claim process. That way, you know when to expect your benefits and what to do if something goes wrong.

First, you’ll contact your employer and file a claim, stating that you’re seeking workers compensation for your injuries. Once you report your injury, your employer must report the accident to their insurance company within a few days. If they don’t, they could end up paying high fines for this. Once they’ve reported your injuries, though, they’ll inspect your claim soon after.

Typically, this process includes checking that the accident happened at work, that you were injured, and that you should receive compensation for the accident. That means they’ll check your workplace and speak to your doctor. Once they do, they’ll calculate your claim’s worth and send you an approval letter, or they’ll give you a reason for denial and send a denial letter.

If you received an approval, you should be done, and you should receive your benefits soon. If you were denied, however, don’t panic. You’ll have a chance to fight back by appealing your claim. Initial denials are common, and your work comp lawyer can usually use your reason for denial to fight back for your work comp benefits in Greenville.

Talk to a Greenville Workers Comp Attorney

When you’re injured on the job, you need help getting back on your feet. Unfortunately, you might feel that your employer is keeping you from that. Your benefits should help you recover as fully as possible, but you may have been denied, and if so, you and your family are suffering for it. That’s a serious problem, but there’s a chance to recover.

When you’ve suffered through a work accident, you need a lawyer on your side. At HawkLaw, PA, we’ve seen plenty of injured workers dealing with a denial while struggling with their injuries, and we understand how important it is to you and your family to get this straightened out. We’ll fight for your chance to receive the full benefits you need to recover.

If you’re unsure where to start or have questions about workers comp in South Carolina, our lawyers offer free consultations as well. You need to know where you stand and whether you have a viable workers comp case before you put in the time and energy. That’s why we want you to know what we can offer before we ever get started.

Ready to begin fighting for the benefits you need? Get your recovery started with the help of a Greenville workers comp lawyer at our firm. Take advantage of our free consultations today by calling 1-888-HAWK-LAW (429-5529) or by completing the online form below.

Visit Our Office

Address:
HawkLaw, P.A.
3 Caledon Ct # A
Greenville, SC 29615
Phone:
+1 (864) 514-4383
Our location:

John D. Hawkins
Founder and CEO

John Hawkins is the Founder and CEO of HawkLaw He has been licensed to practice law in South Carolina since his graduation with honors in 1994 from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was on the Law Review and Order of Wig and Robe.