South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in South Carolina

On-the-job injuries not only cause physical pain, but for many people result in lost wages, a long recovery process, and significant stress about the future. The South Carolina workers’ compensation system is designed to restore your peace of mind by covering your medical bills and compensating you for lost wages and other damages related to the accident. Unfortunately, employers and insurance companies don’t make the recovery process easy on injured workers or their loved ones.

Consistently recognized for their work in the workers’ compensation field, the injury lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC are here to fight for you and ensure that you and your loved ones get the entirety of the compensation you deserve after a workplace injury. Whether your workers’ compensation claim has been denied or you’re just starting the process, we’re here to answer any questions you may have and set you up for the best outcome possible.

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation is a No-Fault System

One notable highlight is that the South Carolina workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system. This means it does not matter who is liable for your accident and injuries. Generally, as long as your injuries are deemed “work related,” then you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Common Causes of South Carolina Workplace Injuries

While every work injury is unique, there are a few common causes of work-related injuries. These include but are not limited to:

Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments

This can include being exposed to electricity, radiation, loud noises, extreme temperatures, infectious diseases, and more.

Transportation Incidents

Transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal accident type throughout the United States in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, with 2,066 fatal injuries from transportation incidents.

Overexertion

Overexertion is consistently a leading cause of work injuries. These tend to lead to non-impact injuries or repetitive strain injuries.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

This includes injuries caused by falls on the same level, to a lower level, slips and trips without a fall, and more.

Falling Objects

Being struck by a falling object or equipment typically causes catastrophic injuries and even loss of life.

Inadequate Training

Inadequate training or supervision is also a common cause of workplace accidents and injuries.

Third Party Neglect

Some injuries may be caused by a negligent third party, discussed in greater detail in the next section.

No matter what factors caused your workplace injury in South Carolina, you may qualify for benefits to include coverage of your medical expenses, compensation for lost wages, and compensation for your disability. Contact our team today for a free consultation directly with an award-winning South Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer.

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Third-Party Negligence Claims in South Carolina Work Injury Cases

If you were not at-fault for the on-the-job accident and resulting injuries, you may also qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to recover compensation. This is referred to as a third-party claim and is filed in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

Only certain work injury cases will qualify for third-party injury claims. You may qualify for a third-party claim if your accident was caused by:

Defective Equipment
Auto Accident
Negligent Contractors or Vendors: Such as a cleaning service that left the floor slick, resulting in a slip and fall.

While these are some of the common instances when you may qualify for a third-party claim, there are other conditions in which you may qualify.

If you think your incident may involve a third-party claim, it’s always in your best interest to speak with an experienced legal team. At Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, we primarily represent personal injury and work injury cases, so if you have a third-party claim, we can help you understand your options and help you directly in-house.

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Common On-The-Job Injuries in South Carolina

Workplace accidents can lead to a wide variety of injuries ranging in severity. If you’ve been injured in any way due to an accident on the job, you may qualify to recover compensation for the damages related to the accident.

Some common on-the-job injuries include:

Arm Injuries
Back Injuries
Burns
Brain Injuries
Broken Bones
Chemical Injuries
Crush Injuries
Cuts
Knee Injuries
Elbow Injuries
Eye Injuries
Loss of Hearing
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Shoulder Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Whiplash
Wrist Injuries
Death

How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help Your Case

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can make a huge difference in your case. Our team will fight to get you the entirety of what you’re owed after an unexpected injury so that you can focus your time and energy into healing and recovering for a brighter future ahead.

Our reputable workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help you throughout your workers compensation claim and beyond by:

Representing you in court.
Answering any questions you may have throughout the process.
Optimizing your workers’ comp claim.
Recovering your lost wages.
Filing a third-party claim if applicable.
Helping you understand your rights and options.
Guiding you through the legal process and updating you at every step so you never feel alone.
Aggressively litigating denied claims.

Navigating Denied Workers’ Comp Claims

Being injured on the job is a frustrating experience, but even more so when your employer or its insurance company denies your claim. While the workers’ compensation system is designed to protect you and your family after an unexpected work injury, sometimes they wrongly deny valid claims. This doesn’t always mean that you do not deserve justice and compensation.

There are many reasons why a workers’ compensation claim may be denied. For instance, they may be denied due to missed deadlines, arguing that your injuries were “off the job,” misclassification of employment status, pre-existing conditions, and more.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help you fight your denied claims. We will make sure the paperwork is completed properly, all deadlines are met, the appropriate hearing requests are filed, your claim is optimized, and more.

If you need assistance appealing a denied workers’ compensation claim, we’re here for you. Reach out to our team today to learn more during a free case evaluation directly with an award-winning South Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.

Contact an Experienced South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney

The South Carolina workers’ compensation system should be simple, but it can become very complicated very quickly. The SC work injury lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC are here to help you optimize your claim and get you and your loved ones the best possible outcome for the future ahead.

Your initial consultation directly with our lawyers is entirely complimentary, so it won’t cost you a thing to talk to our award-winning attorneys. Reach out today by calling (803) 888-2200 or submitting our secure online form and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly. We look forward to hearing from you.

Additional FAQs

What Damages Can I Recover in My Workers’ Comp Claim?

The South Carolina workers’ compensation system is designed to cover an injured worker’s medical bills, and compensate them for lost wages and any resulting disability. We will optimize your claim to seek adequate benefits for your:

Past, present, and future medical expenses
Transportation to and from related appointments
Lost wages
Partial wage loss if your injuries prevent you from returning in the same capacity
Permanent partial disability benefits
Permanent total disability benefits
Bodily disfigurement
Death benefits

To get started on your road to recovery, reach out to our team today. We’re here to help.

What Industries Do You Represent?

Our team represents workers compensation cases across all industries, including but not limited to:

Chemical Plants
Factory Workers
Warehouse Workers
Food Processing Plants
Grocery Store Injuries
Teacher Injuries
First Responders
Healthcare Workers
Truck Driver Injuries
Mechanic Injuries
Restaurant Employees
Delivery Driver Injuries
Law Enforcement
And much more

No matter what industry you were working in at the time of the injury or illness, you deserve justice and support. For more information on what you may be entitled to, reach out to our legal team today.

What Should I Do After An On-The-Job Injury?

Following an on the job injury or illness, there are a few important steps you should take.

Notify Your Employer – This must be done within 90 days of the accident, but ideally should be given as soon as possible. Make sure to give written notice to either your supervisor or administrator.
File a Claim – Ideally, this should be done within 10 days of giving your notice. However, most injured employees have two years from the date of the accident to file.
Visit Your Approved Medical Provider – Your employer or its insurance company should direct you toward approved medical provider(s).
Follow Their Treatment Plan – It’s in your best interest to follow your treating provider’s treatment plan to ensure you recover as best as possible.

Consult With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney – An experienced workmans comp lawyer will help you understand the process, potential outcomes, what to expect, and much more.

Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

Generally, we recommend at least speaking to a workers’ compensation lawyer if:

Your claim was denied
You or a loved one suffered serious injuries
You’re not being taken seriously
You’re out of work for at least a week
Your injuries prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity
Your injuries prevent you from returning to work at all
You currently receive or plan to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
You face any discrimination from your employer
You have pre-existing conditions
Your accident involved a third-party
The settlement offer does not seem high enough

For more information, read our recently published article discussing when it is in your best interest to speak with a lawyer on your workers’ compensation case and why.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

At Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, our workers’ compensation lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Meaning, you do not owe us anything up front or out of pocket. Instead, our lawyers receive a percentage of the total compensation received on your behalf at the end of the case.

In addition, we do not charge anything to speak with a lawyer about your potential case. To schedule a complimentary case evaluation, simply contact our team today. For your convenience, we are available via phone 24/7 at (803) 888-2200.