Whether you are working in a factory or at a desk, work accidents can happen at any time. They can occur without warning, and sometimes, they can leave you completely unable to work. If you are unable to work, you need workers’ compensation benefits to support you during this time.
Unfortunately, getting the benefits you are due is not always easy. That is where your workers’ compensation lawyer in Myrtle Beach at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can step in.
We are ready to stand up for your needs and take action. Talk with a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer from Team Shelly Leeke about your options and what you can do to get the help you need. There is no fee unless we win, and we have recovered more than $6 million for our clients.
When Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Myrtle Beach Help?
Not all work-related injuries qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, you may instead need to file a claim with a Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation attorney.
Typically, this happens when the accident is not directly related to your employment or when seeking workers’ compensation is not an option.
For example, you may have been struck by a car while on your work site. While you were acting as an employee at the time, you may need to sue the third party who injured you instead.
If you suspect something is wrong or that you will not get your benefits, reach out to our team. We can determine your best course of action and guide you on the right path to receiving fair compensation.
If you are unsure who is to blame for your injuries and losses, we strongly encourage you to set up some time to discuss your case with our legal team. Whether your employer is responsible or a third party, trust Shelly Leeke to gather the evidence necessary to build a comprehensive claim for you. We will also help you navigate your rights under workers’ compensation law.
Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach offers a diverse range of job fields, including hospitality, tourism, marine life, and manufacturing. No matter what type of work you are in, your employer is responsible for your safety and, if they fail to meet that goal, they are accountable for your losses.
If you have any of the most common workers’ compensation injuries in Myrtle Beach, we encourage you to contact our Shelly Leeke Law Firm workers’ compensation attorney for a free consultation:
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting from blows or falls
- Lacerations requiring stitches or with nerve damage
- Broken or shattered bones
- Spinal cord injuries resulting in chronic pain or disability
- Soft tissue injuries that limit movement
- Internal organ injuries
- Crushing injuries due to equipment
- Burns from equipment or poor conditions
- Falls from heights
In each of these situations, expect our lawyer to work with you to build your claim. We will gather evidence to support that your injuries came from your job and verify that the recommended treatment is from a licensed medical provider. You can trust Shelly Leeke to be aggressive about seeking full compensation for you.
Common Accidents That Lead to Workers’ Compensation Claims in South Carolina
Our experience makes it very clear to us that most injuries are the result of preventable mistakes and oversights. You have rights, and we want to protect them. If you have injuries from accidents such as the following, do not just settle your claim.
Seek out representation from our Shelly Leeke Law Firm WC lawyer if you experienced any of the following accidents:
- Caught in between accidents
- Falls from heights
- Loss of safety equipment
- Safety oversight
- Vehicle accidents
- Machinery failures
- Tripping hazards
- Poor maintenance and upkeep
- Employee mistakes or misconduct
- Negligent treatment and forcing you to work in unsafe conditions
No matter what caused your injuries and losses, we encourage you to seek medical care, complete all of the treatment recommended to you, and only then file a claim that incorporates all of your losses.
Do not delay in hiring a Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you navigate your case every step of the way. We have extensive experience in fighting for victims’ rights.
Qualifying for a Workers’ Comp Case
Typically, workers’ compensation cases include any case where you are injured or fall ill as a result of your job. Slipping and falling in the office, for example, or being injured by the machines you use, are both potentially valid claims. The injury or illness must be related to your work.
For example, if you suffered a heart attack on the job but you suffer from a genetic condition that impacts your heart’s health, you may not have grounds for workers’ compensation.
Our team will review the details of your case to determine if you can seek compensation. We encourage you to document your injuries and the details of your incident, report the accident to your employer, and then give us a call.
To qualify for workers’ compensation claims, you must be able to alert the employer of the incident as soon as possible. You then have the right to file a claim with the employer’s workers’ compensation provider.
If you are denied the ability to do so, set up a consultation with our top accident attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Process
When you are first injured on the job, your first step is to report the injury and the accident, as well as seek medical attention. This ensures that your employer knows about the accident as soon as possible.
Doing so often means fewer gaps in coverage, so you won’t have to wait for benefits, and you’ll be getting the treatment you need now, so your injuries don’t worsen.
Once you have reported your accident to your employer, they must then report the accident to their workers’ compensation insurance company. The insurance company will review the details of the accident. It will determine whether the company is liable and calculate what damages you are owed.
Once these steps have been completed, you should receive your benefits. That leaves you with the time and resources to focus on your health and recovery.
Talk to your workers’ compensation attorney in Myrtle Beach if you are struggling to get the benefits you are due following your accident. Review our case results to learn more about our success. Shelly gets results.
Benefits You Could Collect in a Myrtle Beach Workers’ Compensation Case
After a work accident, you should not have to pay out of pocket for your injuries. Employers are responsible for maintaining a safe working environment and for providing care to employees who are injured on the job. Workers’ compensation insurance helps employers cover their medical expenses.
Workers’ compensation is not the same as personal injury losses. You are not entitled to seek non-economic damages against your employer. Instead, you can only seek damages related to loss of income and injury-related costs. This is an area of the law that can be confusing to victims.
If you are hurt on the job, make sure you speak to our Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation lawyer before you file a claim. Let us verify that you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to. Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect.
Medical Benefits
After a work accident, chances are good that you have suffered an injury. Whether that injury is as small as a sprained ankle or as severe as brain trauma or a spinal cord injury, you should not have to pay out of your own pocket for your recovery. That is where your benefits come in.
Your medical bills should be covered in full for all care related to your injuries. This includes future medical expenses as long as you do not accept a lump sum settlement offer absolving the insurer from future financial liability. Talk with your workers’ compensation lawyer in Myrtle Beach if you are having trouble getting your bills paid.
If your employer denies access to medical care or you cannot get the workers’ compensation insurance provider to pay for the benefits you deserve, reach out to our lawyer.
You should be able to seek care that aligns with what type of treatment you need and what any other medical provider would recommend. Let us fight for fair treatment under the law at a Shelly Leeke law firm case evaluation.
Indemnity Benefits
Your work injury may have made it impossible to return to work for weeks, months, or even years. While you may have your medical expenses covered by other benefits, you need an income to keep you and your family housed, fed, and taken care of.
Indemnity benefits, also called disability benefits or wage replacement benefits, cover a portion of your wages when you are unable to work, providing for you so you can focus on regaining your health.
Workers’ compensation claims that involve significant time off could include recovery of these benefits. If you are out of work for more than 7 days, you are entitled to temporary lost wage benefits.
The amount of your temporary pay benefits is not your full income, but rather is 66⅔% of the income you averaged over the last three months.
There are also limitations to the amount you can claim based on earnings. Because this can be a critical factor in enabling you to get back to your life, we encourage you to speak to our Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation lawyer before you agree to any compensation for lost wages.
Death Benefits
Unfortunately, you may have been a loved one of a worker who passed away due to a work-related injury. That leaves you handling not just your own grief but also the lack of income and the funeral and burial expenses. Fortunately, workers’ compensation benefits can help reduce this burden.
Loved ones of the deceased may receive aid for these expenses under the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 42, Chapter 1, §42-1-110.
You may also receive lost wages payments that may continue until death or remarriage for spouses or until children of the deceased are 18 years old. If you are unsure whether you qualify for death benefits, do not hesitate to contact our legal team for personalized answers.
We do not encourage you to file for workers’ compensation death benefits if your loved one lost their life until you talk to an attorney. Workers’ compensation will not provide you with a fair level of recovery here. You need an attorney who will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive justice for your family member. Trust us to be there for you.
Dealing with a Workers’ Compensation Claim Denial
Sadly, many Myrtle Beach workers find themselves denied the compensation they need immediately after a work accident. Despite the insurance company’s financial responsibilities, it is not unusual for insurers to deny the claims of even the most deserving of applicants.
This happens for many reasons, including the following:
- Missed deadlines
- The injury does not qualify
- The insurance company believes your injuries aren’t that severe
- A third party caused the injury
- Bad faith actions on the insurer’s part
If you have faced any of these reasons for denial, or if you believe you were otherwise wrongfully denied, talk to Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Your workers’ compensation benefits can make a significant difference in your quality of life, and you should not have to settle for less or for nothing. We can guide you through the process of getting compensated fairly for your claim.
Myrtle Beach Workers’ Compensation Help
When you are facing serious injuries and a significant impact on your health and well-being, filing a simple workers’ compensation claim may not seem like enough.
That is especially true when you have life-threatening complications or an uncertain future. You likely have many questions about what your rights really are.
It is very common for victims not to know what their rights are, and you may believe that both your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance company want to make it right. They do not. They are a for-profit company that needs to minimize the compensation paid to you.
The best way to get guidance for workers’ compensation claims in Myrtle Beach, SC, is to contact your lawyer. Allow our legal team to answer all of your questions during a free consultation. To give you some support, consider the following frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation claims in South Carolina. Learn all about our community involvement today.
What Are Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits?
Vocational rehabilitation benefits may be available to you if your injuries are so serious that you cannot continue working, even after having reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
The insurance company will pay for you to go back to school or receive additional job training so you can re-enter the workforce despite your permanent disability. This way, you will not be dependent on workers’ compensation benefits and can eventually provide for yourself and your family on your own.
What Do I Do if I Cannot Afford to Hire a Workers’ Comp Attorney?
When you choose to hire a workers’ compensation attorney in Myrtle Beach, you do not need to worry about the cost. Shelly Leeke Law Firm works for our clients on contingency in accordance with South Carolina Judicial Branch Rule 1.5: Fees.
If we lose, you pay nothing. If we win, a previously agreed-upon percentage of your settlement will cover our fees.
How Long Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Generally, workers’ compensation benefits can be collected until you are physically capable of returning to work, whether that is on a part-time or full-time basis. If you can return to work on a part-time basis, you can continue to receive workers’ comp, but at a reduced rate.
If you reach the maximum number of weeks allowable based on the type of injury you sustained, your workers’ comp benefits may convert to disability benefits or be terminated.
What If I Do Not Agree with the Recommended Treatment?
Under workers’ compensation claims, you must seek care from a recognized medical provider and complete that care as the doctor recommends.
If you do not believe that the doctor is providing you with the quality of care you deserve, set up some time to discuss your case with our workers’ compensation attorney in Myrtle Beach. Find more answers in our FAQs section.
Speak With a Myrtle Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
When you are hurt in a work accident, you may have a hard time getting the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. These benefits can help you overcome your injuries and return to work. However, you may be unsure of what will happen if you are denied or not offered the full benefits you are entitled to.
If you are struggling to get covered, talk with our team at Shelly Leeke Law Firm. We offer free consultations, so you can speak with a Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation attorney before you make any decisions about your claim.
When you are hurt and need help with your recovery, we are here to help. Reach out to schedule your Shelly Leeke Law Firm free consultation by calling our office or filling out our contact form.
