How Workers’ Compensation Settlements Work

Most people know that workers’ compensation benefits are available to people who have been injured at on the job. What they don’t know is how the system works or whether they qualify for benefits. We hope that this information can help you if you have questions about workers’ compensation settlements in South Carolina.

So, when can you file a claim? In South Carolina, you should file for workers’ compensation benefits as soon as you become injured or develop an illness that is related to your work. This can be more complicated than it seems, especially when impairments develop over time. These impairments–things like mesothelioma or carpal tunnel syndrome–should be reported as soon as you know (or should have known) that the injury was caused by your work.

Timing is critical. In South Carolina, the law places strict deadlines on filing workers’ compensation claims. You only have a limited time to report the injury and file the claim, or your claim may be denied. That’s why it’s important to take action right away. Don’t wait.

You should know that you are always entitled to turn to an attorney for help at any point in the workers’ compensation process. Your employer won’t know that you called a lawyer or went in for a free initial consultation. If cost is a concern, you should know that you won’t owe attorney’s fees up front. Attorneys are usually paid a percentage of the final settlement amount.

The process is started when sick or injured workers report the matter to their employers. The employer then submits a report to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and notifies the business’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

The insurance carrier should then begin paying the injured worker’s medical bills, as well as a percentage of his or her weekly income through temporary disability checks. However, things don’t always go so smoothly. Sometimes insurance carriers deny claims or refuse to pay as much as the worker deserves. They do so for a variety of reasons.

If you would like to dispute a decision made by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier or by your employer, getting an attorney’s help is critical. You attorney knows the process and the best course of action for helping you get the settlement you need and deserve.

What kinds of benefits are available? There are many different workers’ compensation benefits that sick or injured workers are entitled to receive, depending on their situations. These include disability payments for a portion of their wages, compensation for medical care and expenses and compensation for a permanent work injury, as well as the cost of training for a new position. The best way to learn exactly what you’re entitled to is to talk with a lawyer about your injury and your circumstances.