Have you recently suffered a work-related injury? Are you having trouble making ends meet while you take time off of work to recuperate from your injuries? If so, obtaining workers’ compensation benefits may be in your best interests. However, getting the insurance company and your employer to pay can be more difficult than you might have previously thought.
When you contact an experienced Columbia workers’ compensation attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm for help, you can focus on healing from your injuries while we work to get your application for worker’s compensation approved. Our Columbia workers compensation lawyers are ready to take the fight up for you, to make sure you get your application approved as soon as possible.
Workers’ Compensation Laws in Columbia
South Carolina workers’ compensation laws are strict. All employers that employ four or more employees are obligated to protect their employees with workers’ compensation protection coverage.
Here, no matter who is responsible for causing your accident, you have the right to compensation and benefits as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. When you have suffered critical injuries in a work-related accident, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Columbia, SC will review the details of your case to determine whether you qualify for worker’s comp.
If your employer fails to purchase the necessary workers’ compensation insurance coverage, and you suffer an injury, you may be able to file a third-party liability claim against them.
Eligibility for Columbia Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The eligibility requirements for workers’ compensation benefits are far less strict than you might have previously thought. As long as you are considered an employee of the company and were involved in a work-related accident, you may be eligible for worker’s comp. benefits.
Your workers’ compensation attorney in Columbia, SC, will scrutinize the evidence in your case to ensure you qualify. It does not matter how many hours you work each week. Nor does it matter how long you have been with the company. Many on-the-job injury victims have concerns that being employed with the company for a short period of time or only working part-time or temporarily means you do not qualify. However, this is not the case.
Disqualification From Workers’ Compensation Eligibility
Any time you are involved in a work-related accident, you should qualify for worker’s comp benefits. However, that does not mean there are no instances in which you may be disqualified. For example, if you caused your own injuries intentionally, you may not be eligible for worker’s comp.
Additionally, if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, the insurance company may not be willing to approve your claim. Our workers’ compensation attorneys are here to ensure the insurance company treats you fairly as you seek the benefits that you need to get through these tough times.
Types of Workers’ Compensation In Columbia
If our workers’ compensation lawyers can get your claim for benefits approved, there are a variety of benefits you can expect to begin receiving shortly after your claim has been approved.
Although they may not cover your damages in their entirety, workers’ compensation benefits are a good starting point in finding the financial relief and support you need when you need it most. Here is more about the different types of worker’s comp benefits that may be available to you:
Disability Benefits
First, we have disability benefits. When you need to take time off of work because your injuries are so severe, disability benefits provide you with a portion of your lost income so you can continue covering your expenses. However, do not expect to receive a full paycheck after suffering an on-the-job injury.
Instead, disability benefits are paid at a rate of 2/3 of your average weekly wages. This means you could expect to receive approximately 2/3 of your average weekly salary as part of your workers’ compensation benefits. However, this amount could be limited to the maximum amount of weekly workers’ compensation benefits allowable under South Carolina worker’s comp laws.
Medical Benefits
When you are involved in an on-the-job accident, you should not be expected to cover the medical expenses that arise. Instead, the insurance company can be ordered to cover your medical expenses in full.
This includes the costs of transportation to and from your healthcare provider, co-pays, prescription medication to use, ongoing treatment, and any other medical expenses that arise in relation to your on-the-job injury.
Vocational Rehabilitation
If your work injuries are severe enough that you are not going to be able to go back to work or find employment in the same industry, your employer’s insurance provider will be required to provide you with vocational rehabilitation benefits. These are meant to cover the costs of education or job training so that you have your best opportunity to re-enter the workforce.
Death Benefits
Death benefits may be available to the surviving family members of anyone who has passed away from a work-related injury. Death benefits cover the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, and provide the surviving family members with a portion of the decedent’s lost income.
What to Do of Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied
It is more common than you might think for workers’ compensation claims to be denied. This does not necessarily mean your claim for benefits cannot be approved, but rather your attorney will need to take action to get the insurance company to uphold their financial obligations.
If you have received a workers’ compensation claim denial, do not hesitate to contact our firm to figure out how you can go without appealing your decision. In many cases, simply reminding the insurance of additional supporting information or evidence can help them overture in your claim denial. However, our team of attorneys will be prepared to move forward with a formal appeal if the insurance company is unwilling to settle your workers’ comp claim fairly.
Contact a Columbia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Help Today
Worker’s compensation benefits can go a long way in helping victims of work-related accidents get the financial support they need while healing from their injuries.
If the insurance company is refusing to approve your claim, or you are unsure of how to get started with your workers’ comp case, be sure to contact a dedicated Columbia workers’ compensation attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation today. You can fill out our quick contact form or call us to get started.
