Sullivan’s Island Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt on the job, you could be facing substantial medical bills and might be unable to return to work for quite some time. Fortunately, nearly all employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance offers injured employees a fairly straightforward path to compensation.

While you may be able to pursue compensation on your own, you might not know how to file a workers’ compensation claim. Working with the team at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys can help to streamline the process and ensure you get all of your losses covered.

Contact a Sullivan’s Island Personal Injury Lawyer today to get started on your claim.

How You Can Benefit From Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim

Without workers’ compensation insurance, anytime a worker was injured on the job, they would have to file a civil lawsuit against their employer. Fortunately, the ability to file a workers’ compensation claim gives injured workers an easy path to compensation that doesn’t involve a lengthy trial.

Instead of going through the messy process of taking your employer to court, you can simply hire a workers’ compensation lawyer from Sullivan’s Island and get paid shortly after. If your claim is successful, you could receive a number of helpful benefits.

Compensation You Could Receive From a Claim

If you’re struggling to recover from a workplace injury, you’re probably wondering what a workers’ compensation claim can offer you. Here are some of the benefits you can receive from a claim in South Carolina:

Medical Costs

The main goal of your claim is to help you regain your health. A successful claim can yield compensation for doctor’s visits, emergency room care, surgeries, prescription medication, assistive devices, and more. A Sullivan’s Island workers’ compensation attorney can make sure you get enough compensation to cover all of your medical expenses.

Future Treatment Costs

Some individuals who are hurt in workplace incidents experience debilitating conditions for months and even years to come. Fortunately, the compensation you receive from a claim can pay for any treatments you need down the road.

Lost Income

If you’re dealing with a serious injury, you’ll probably have to take time off to attend medical appointments and get the rest you need to get better. If that’s the case, you might be worried about having enough money to pay rent and provide for yourself and your family.

Don’t worry! Our workers’ compensation lawyers can ensure you receive enough compensation to make up for your lost wages. We’ll use your previous paychecks to show your employer’s insurance provider how much you should receive from income-related losses.

Reduced Earning Ability

Is your injury so severe that it’s expected to keep you from working in your desired position for an extended period of time? If so, you might have to take a lower-paying position or stop working altogether. If that happens, we can seek compensation to offset your decrease in earnings.

Death Benefits

We offer our condolences if you’ve lost a spouse or family member in a fatal workplace accident. To make this time easier for you and your family, we can make sure your insurance settlement includes the following death benefits:

• Receive two-thirds of the decedent’s average weekly wage for up to 500 weeks

• $12,000 to cover funeral and burial costs

Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury

After getting injured at work, you must ensure you follow the correct procedure to protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits. While South Carolina has a two-year statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims, there are some steps that need to be taken much sooner.

Notify Your Employer Within 90 Days

According to South Carolina Code § 42-15-20, you have 90 days from the date of the incident to notify your employer about your injury. While you are not required to inform them in writing, doing so is to your advantage, as that way, you will have evidence that this task was performed on time.

Seek Treatment From an Approved Provider

After that, you need to seek medical attention. Your employer should inform you of approved doctors that you can visit. While you must go to an employer-approved physician, you can also get a second opinion from a doctor of your choosing.

Seeking treatment from an approved provider is important because your employer’s insurance will only pay for medical care administered by an approved facility or physician. However, seeking treatment from an unapproved provider is sometimes necessary.

In the case of a medical emergency, an ambulance will be obligated to take you directly to the nearest emergency room, regardless of whether it’s approved by the insurer. If you have no other option but to receive treatment from an unapproved facility, our workers’ comp lawyers in Sullivan’s Island can do their best to recover compensation for your treatment bills.

Is Filing a Lawsuit an Option?

For the majority of workplace accidents, your only path to compensation is through a workers’ compensation claim. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If your employer deliberately harmed you, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them.

Additionally, if your injuries were caused by a third party not directly tied to your employer, you may be able to file a lawsuit against that party. For example, if a defective tool caused your on-the-job injury, you can file a defective product lawsuit against the manufacturer. Similarly, if you are involved in a car accident while working, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

What a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Sullivan’s Island Will Do for You

A workers’ compensation attorney in Sullivan’s Island can make sure your workers’ comp claim is filed correctly and promptly. If your application gets denied, your lawyer can help you file an appeal and demand that you receive the benefits you need to support your recovery.

Improve Your Chances of Receiving Benefits

While you may be able to file a claim by yourself, the chances of your claim getting accepted the first time around will increase if you work with an attorney. Even if your lawyer handles your claim in the exact same way you would have, simply showing the insurance company that you are serious about getting compensation will improve your odds of a positive outcome.

Insurance companies hate to pay out claims and will do everything possible to avoid doing so. When they know that their grounds for denial are flimsy, having a lawyer already attached will show them that a denial will certainly be countered with an appeal.

Help You File a Lawsuit

Your workers’ compensation attorney can also advise you on whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. If a third party is liable for your accident, your lawyer will file a lawsuit and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

Contact Our Sullivan’s Island Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for Help

When choosing an attorney to help with your claim, it is important to find someone with plenty of experience handling cases similar to yours. At Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, we have helped countless workers get back on their feet after workplace accidents. The sooner we can get started helping you, the sooner you will receive the money you’re owed.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. We will review the particulars of your case, answer your questions, and offer advice, all with no obligation to retain our services. If a Sullivan’s Island workers’ compensation lawyer agrees to take on your case, you’ll likely receive the compensation and benefits you deserve.