Workers Compensation in Greenville, SC
You aren’t alone if you ask “How does workers comp work?” Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. The extent of workers’ comp coverage an employer must carry depends on South Carolina state law.
Thus, in trying to figure out how workers comp works, it helps to understand the laws on the books in the state where the business operates. If the injury or illness a worker sustains is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the burden. Learn some of the basic principles of Greenville, SC workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Greenville, South Carolina?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the South Carolina industries with the highest rate of injuries are trade, transportation, and manufacturing. Reports from the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration show that work-related injuries in Greenville are most often caused by falls, overexertion, or contact with objects and equipment. These incidents most frequently result in sprains, strain, and tears. Additionally, cuts, punctures, and fractures are common workplace injuries. The severity of injuries varies widely, but over half of the reported injuries result in employees missing multiple days of work.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Greenville, South Carolina?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured at work. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify.
South Carolina requires workers’ compensation insurance for any company with at least four employees. The rules for benefits are the purviews of the South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission. Medical treatment is fully covered, as long as it is likely to lessen your disability. If your injury prevents you from working for at least 7 days, you are eligible for compensation for lost wages. The weekly payment will be a maximum payment of $903.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Greenville, SC are critical for purposes of filing a claim for compensation. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay seeking help from a Greenville, SC healthcare professional. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines. Having a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred is the first step in the process. Your employer cannot file a claim with their insurance carrier without this information.
When dealing with a job-related illness, the symptoms and diagnosis may not happen right away. You may find yourself attending regular checkups and testing for weeks or months. Your doctor may make the determination that the illness is either the result of your work conditions or aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
The first report of an on-the-job injury or illness will provide the insurance carrier with the details of the events. In this report, you will provide your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it. It’s always a good idea to bring a copy of the doctor’s report to submit with the report of injury.
The South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission requires injured employees in Greenville to report the injury to their employer within 90 days. In addition, a claim must go to the South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission within two years of the injury.
Timeline and Other Information
Once your claim receives approval, the first compensation payment is typically made within 14 days. Disability payments for lost wages will continue until you are able to return to work, but the duration has a cap. For partial disabilities, the maximum is 340 weeks, and for total disability, the maximum is 500 weeks. If your disability is permanent, you can choose to have payments based on either the type of injury or loss of earning capacity, whichever is longer.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation continues.
Why You Should Hire a Greenville, South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Greenville, South Carolina, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether the injury or illness happened on the clock or your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Greenville workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Greenville, South Carolina
If you suffered an injury or contract an illness as a result of your job in Greenville, SC you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
