Workers’ compensation is a program of which most people have heard but likely have very little or no experience with personally. After all, if all goes well, you will never need workers’ compensation benefits and would have little reason to learn about the program. Below are some answers to some of the more frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation in South Carolina. For specific information regarding your case, call our office today.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides employees with benefits in the event that they are injured in a workplace accident or develop an occupational illness. It is a no-fault system, meaning that injured employees do not need to establish that their accident was caused by someone else’s negligence as they would in a traditional lawsuit. Workers’ compensation is meant to be the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, meaning that employees are generally precluded from filing a lawsuit against their employers after an accident.
What Benefits are Available Through Workers’ Compensation?
Workers compensation benefits are intended to provide injured workers with medical care and cash benefits to make up for their lost income. Generally, victims can obtain medical benefits, income benefits, and disability benefits. Importantly, workers’ compensation does not compensate injured workers for their pain and suffering or provide for punitive damages. As a result, the benefits that injured workers obtain through a workers’ compensation is usually significantly less that they would be able to obtain through a personal injury action for the same injury.
Who Pays for Workers’ Compensation?
Employers are solely responsible for paying for workers’ compensation insurance and almost all employers are required to carry it. Furthermore, employers are prohibited from passing the cost of workers’ compensation insurance through to their employees.
Do I Need an Attorney to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Many injured workers are unsure of whether or not they need to hire an attorney after an accident or they develop an occupational disease. While there is no rule that requires injured workers to retain an attorney, it is often advisable to do so. This is particularly true in cases where an employee is seriously injured and was developed a long-term disability – naturally, the more money there is at stake, the more likely the insurance company will try and deny the claim. Fortunately, the assistance of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help ensure that injured workers get the benefits to which they are entitled under South Carolina law.
Call Greenville, SC Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have been injured in a workplace accident or have developed a medical condition that you believe is related to your employment, you should consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Greenville workers’ compensation attorney Dan Pruitt has been practicing law since 1993 and is dedicated to helping people that have been injured at work obtain the benefits to which they are entitled. To schedule a free case evaluation with Mr. Pruitt, call Dan Pruitt Injury Law today.