When you are going about your business at work, you don’t expect to be hurt. Yet work-related injuries – and occupational illnesses – happen all too often. Even if your employer didn’t cause your injury, you are still entitled to recover medical benefits, lost wages, and disability benefits through the workers’ compensation system.

There are certain steps that you should always take to protect your right to compensation. First, you should report your accident immediately to a supervisor (and always within 90 days). You should then document everything and seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Finally, you should file a workers’ compensation claim within 2 years of the injury. Our Simpsonville workers’ compensation lawyers can help you with the process and advocate for your right to full compensation.

At Brooks Derrick Accident and Injury Lawyers, we offer skilled, compassionate legal representation to clients in the greater Simpsonville area who have been injured in all types of accidents, including slip and falls, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and work-related injuries. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a South Carolina workers’ comp attorney, reach out to our law firm today.

What You Should Do If You’re Injured at Work

In South Carolina, work-related injuries are covered through the workers’ compensation system. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system through which employees can get medical benefits, lost wages, and permanent disability payments. You don’t have to prove that your employer did something wrong to get workers’ compensation benefits in South Carolina, but you do have to follow certain rules.

If you are hurt at work, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your right to a full recovery. Our Simpsonville workers’ compensation attorneys can analyze your case and work with you to help you get the money that you deserve. We can also advocate for you in a personal injury lawsuit if a third party is responsible for your injuries. Read on to learn more about the process and what you should do if you are hurt at work.

Report the Injury

The first thing that you should do if you are hurt at work is to report the injury to your employer immediately. You can report it to a manager, supervisor, or an on-site nurse. If you report your injury to a coworker, then it might not be considered adequate notice to your company, so be sure to make the report to someone in a supervisory role.

Under South Carolina law, failure to report a work-related injury within 90 days may disqualify you from receiving workers’ compensation benefits. For this reason, it is incredibly important to report your injury as soon as possible. In an emergency, you might not have time to make the report right away, but you should still report it as soon as you are able to do so.

Document Everything

If you can, the next thing that you should do is document every aspect of the accident and your injury. Write down notes about what happened. You could even send an email or text to yourself with details about the incident. The important thing is that your notes are contemporaneous since our memories tend to fade over time.

You should also try to take photos and videos of where the incident occurred and your injuries. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so you don’t have to prove that your employer did something wrong in order to get benefits. That being said, you do have to demonstrate that your injury happened at work. Taking photos and videos can be important evidence in case your employer or their insurance company tries to claim that you weren’t hurt at work.

Of course, depending on the severity of your injuries, you might not be able to write down notes or take any pictures. Make sure that you do what is best for your health and well-being at the moment, which may include not worrying as much about documentation and instead getting medical treatment as soon as possible.

Seek Medical Care

When you report your work-related injury to your employer, you should ask to be seen by their recommended medical professional. In some cases, employers have a relationship with a clinic or may even have an on-site medical center. You should do this immediately so that you can get properly evaluated and treated. 

In an emergency situation, you can call 911 or go to the hospital. You don’t have to wait to be seen by your employer’s recommended medical professional. However, you should still report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, including if you got emergency medical treatment.

Getting medical care right away is important for two big reasons. First, it is critical that you get evaluated so you get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Many conditions can worsen without medical intervention, so seeing a doctor is a way to make sure that you recover fully.

Second, going to the doctor is a way to establish a link between your injuries and work. Remember: workers’ comp only covers injuries that happen at work. When you get medical care during the middle of your workday and inform the staff that you were hurt at work, there will be additional documentation that your injury is work-related.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Once you have gotten medical treatment, the next step is to file a workers’ compensation claim. In South Carolina, this means filing Form 50 for an injury claim. This form must be completed and filed with the Workers’ Compensation Commission even if your employer has already notified the Commission of your accident. Form 50 must be submitted within 2 years of the date of your injury.

In many workers’ compensation cases, particularly those involving minor injuries, you won’t need a lawyer. However, if your employer is questioning the extent of your injuries, your need for time off of work, or whether the injury was work-related, then you might need legal counsel. Our law firm is adept at handling South Carolina workers’ compensation claims, fighting hard to help you get the compensation that you are entitled to under the law.

We offer free initial consultations for all prospective clients. This means that you will have the opportunity to get legal advice and learn more about your rights without paying a single penny. If you decide to hire our law offices, you won’t pay a fee unless we recover money for you through a settlement or after a hearing.

Help for Injured Workers in South Carolina

When you are hurt at work, you might be unsure of what your rights are and what you should do next. Our law firm is here to help. We’ll walk you through the process, starting with a free initial consultation. We will then fight to make sure that you get the benefits that you are entitled to under South Carolina law.

Based in Simpsonville, Brooks Derrick Accident and Injury Lawyers work with injury victims in South Carolina who have been hurt in all types of accidents – including work-related accidents and injuries. For each case, our goal is to help our clients get the best possible outcome. For work injuries, this may include pursuing a personal injury claim against a third party. Reach out to our law firm at 864-531-7765 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment with a Simpsonville workers’ compensation attorney.