Whether you’re 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’re 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’s where the South Carolina workers compensation lawyers at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can step in.
When you need a Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation attorney on your side, we’re ready to stand up for your needs and take action. Talk with a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer about your options and what you can do to get the help you need.
Qualifying for a Workers’ Comp Case
Typically, workers’ compensation cases include any case where you are injured or fell 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.
Types of Cases Where a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Not all work injuries earn you workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, you may instead need to file a claim with a personal injury 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 won’t get your benefits, reach out to a lawyer. They can determine your best course of action and set you on the right path to getting compensated fairly.
South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Process
When you are first injured on the job, your first step is to report the accident and the injury, as well as seek medical attention. This means your employer knows about the accident as soon as possible, meaning fewer gaps that you will have to wait for benefits, and it means getting the treatment you need now so your injuries do not worsen.
Once you have reported your accident, your employer must then report the accident to their workers’ compensation insurance company. The insurance company will review the details of the accident, 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.
Benefits Due for 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 they’re responsible for taking care of employees who are injured on the job.
Unsure what benefits you are due? Here are just a few 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. Talk to your Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation lawyer if you are having trouble getting your bills paid.
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 cover a certain portion of your wages when you are unable to work, providing for you so you can focus on regaining your health.
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 as well as lost wages payments that may continue until death or remarriage for spouses and until they are 18 years old for children of the deceased.
Dealing with a Workers’ Compensation Claim Denial
Sadly, many Myrtle Beach workers find themselves denied the compensation they need after a work accident right away. 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
- The injury was caused by a third party
- 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 the lawyers at Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Your workers’ compensation benefits can make a big difference in your quality of life, and you should not have to settle for less or for nothing. Your lawyer can guide you through the process of getting compensated fairly for your claim.
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 due. These benefits can help you overcome your injuries and return to work, but what happens if you are denied or not offered the full benefits you are due?
If you are struggling to get covered, talk with the 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 for your free consultation by calling our office or filling out the following online contact form.