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A workplace injury can leave you unable to earn your usual paycheck while medical bills keep arriving. A Landrum workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue benefits for medical treatment and lost income while you recover.
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we’ve helped more than 10,000 clients across our practice areas. We can review your injury, explain your rights, and address disputes with your employer’s insurance carrier.
Our South Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers can help you understand the claims process and the deadlines that apply. Contact us today to discuss your workplace injury and your options for benefits.
Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation in Landrum?
You generally qualify for workers’ compensation in Landrum if you’re a covered employee who suffered an injury arising out of and during the course of your employment. South Carolina typically requires businesses with four or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance, although certain exceptions apply.
Work-related injuries can result from falls, lifting heavy objects, equipment accidents, or repetitive movements. Occupational illnesses may also qualify when medical evidence connects them to workplace conditions. You generally don’t have to prove that your employer caused the injury through negligence.
Coverage questions can arise if your employer classifies you as an independent contractor or you work across state lines. Landrum’s proximity to North Carolina can make these situations more common. Your employment relationship, work location, and other circumstances help determine which workers’ compensation rules apply.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
After a workplace injury, seek medical attention and notify your employer as soon as possible. Tell your healthcare provider how the accident happened and describe your symptoms. For nonemergency care, your employer generally has the right to select an authorized treating provider.
You should also take the following steps to protect your claim:
- Report the injury: Tell your supervisor what happened and request written documentation.
- Follow medical instructions: Attend appointments and comply with work restrictions.
- Keep records: Save medical reports, pay stubs, accident reports, and insurance correspondence.
- Document the accident: Record witness information and photograph relevant conditions when possible.
- Track missed work: Note any shifts or hours you miss because of the injury.
Avoid giving incomplete information or signing documents you don’t understand. Insurance adjusters may request statements about your injuries or ability to work. A lawyer can review these requests and explain how your answers or signed documents could affect your benefits.
What Benefits Can You Receive Through South Carolina Workers’ Compensation?
South Carolina workers’ compensation provides qualifying injured employees with medical treatment and wage replacement benefits. The type and amount of benefits depend on your injury, medical restrictions, and ability to work. Some workers also qualify for compensation related to permanent impairment or disability.
Depending on your circumstances, available benefits can include:
- Medical treatment: Authorized doctor visits, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
- Temporary total disability: Wage replacement when a qualifying injury prevents you from working.
- Temporary partial disability: Benefits when you return to work but earn less because of your injury.
- Permanent disability benefits: Additional compensation for qualifying lasting impairments or disabilities.
- Travel reimbursement: Payment for eligible mileage expenses related to authorized medical care.
Temporary total disability benefits generally equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to South Carolina’s maximum rate. A seven-day waiting period ordinarily applies, but benefits can cover that initial period if your disability lasts more than 14 days. Landrum workers’ compensation attorneys can review your wage calculations and benefit eligibility.
Reporting and Filing Deadlines for Landrum Workplace Injuries
South Carolina generally gives injured employees 90 days to notify their employer about a workplace accident. You should report the injury as soon as possible, even if your symptoms seem minor. Delayed notice can create disputes about when the injury happened or whether it resulted from your job.
Reporting an injury and filing a workers’ compensation claim are separate requirements. You generally have two years from the accident to file a claim with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. Different rules can apply to occupational diseases, repetitive-trauma injuries, and certain other circumstances.
Keep copies of your accident report and any correspondence confirming when you notified your employer. If symptoms developed gradually, document when they began and when a healthcare provider connected them to your work. A lawyer can review your timeline and identify deadlines that could affect your benefits.
How Landrum Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Handle Denied Claims
A workers’ compensation claim can be denied when an insurer disputes whether your injury is work-related, whether you reported it on time, or whether treatment is necessary. Disagreements can also involve employment status, wage calculations, medical restrictions, or the extent of your disability.
If your claim is denied, review the insurer’s explanation and gather evidence addressing the disputed issues. Medical records, witness statements, accident reports, and employment documents can help establish what happened. An updated physician’s opinion may also support your need for treatment or time away from work.
You can challenge certain decisions through the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. Disputed claims may require a hearing, and appeals have separate deadlines. A lawyer can review the denial, prepare supporting evidence, and represent your interests during the applicable proceedings.
Discuss Your Next Steps With Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC
A workplace injury can affect your health, income, and ability to return to your regular job. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we can review your claim, explain available benefits, and help address problems with medical treatment or wage payments.
Our firm has recovered more than $100 million for clients across our practice areas. We can gather evidence, communicate with insurance carriers, and represent injured workers in disputed claims. We’ll also explain how a proposed settlement could affect future medical care and benefits.
If your employer disputes your injury or the insurer refuses benefits, a Landrum workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue your options. Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today to discuss your circumstances and learn how we can help.
