Columbia Workers' Compensation Lawyer

The workers’ compensation lawyers at Stewart Law Offices represent injured people in workers’ compensation claims in Columbia and across South Carolina. We help victims navigate the process of obtaining the benefits they deserve when an injury at work impacts their life and livelihood.

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation law provides that an individual who is injured on the job has the right to recover compensation for any medical bills, partial replacement of lost wages, and disability benefits. An employee is not required to prove that an employer was at fault or contributed to a victim’s injuries to receive benefits.

Businesses that employ four or more workers are required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. Sometimes, employers may argue for reduced benefits or deny a claim altogether. Injured workers should make sure that they have legal representation if this happens so they can fight to receive the full amount of compensation they need.

Did you sustain a severe injury while on the job in Columbia? You may need legal assistance to make sure that you pursue all the benefits that you deserve under the law.

Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Columbia?

A lawyer can be essential to many parts of the workers’ compensation process. For example, workers’ compensation commissioners with the WCC may conduct a hearing to resolve disputes between you and your employer or their insurance carrier. You may also need to request a hearing if your employer does not report your accident, denies that your injury was caused by an accident on the job, or believes you are not receiving the full amount of benefits.

An experienced lawyer will know what kind of evidence is needed to be submitted to help you resolve your claim successfully. They will have knowledge about all of the different forms that must be completed and can help you avoid many of the oversights and errors that create lengthy delays.

If you are offered a lump sum settlement to resolve your workers’ compensation case, a lawyer can work to negotiate a full and fair settlement on your behalf. The attorney can fight for a settlement that truly accounts for all of your past, present, and future needs.

If you suffered a serious injury on the job, contact our injury lawyers for help with your workers’ compensation claim. Stewart Law Office assists clients with complex workplace injury claims.

Tips for Obtaining Workers’ Compensation Benefits Successfully

Every workplace accident involves its own unique factors, but everyone should take certain steps following any kind of on-the-job injury.

When you are involved in an accident at your place of employment, you should:

1. Report the Accident

You need to file a report with your employer as soon as possible after an accident, and a report must be filed within 90 days for you to receive benefits. You should make your report in writing and keep a copy of the report for your records.

2. Get Medical Care

You should always seek medical treatment after an accident, even if you initially do not think that you were hurt. This is essential to show that your injuries were caused directly by your workplace accident. If you receive care from your employer’s chosen medical care provider, the costs of your treatment should be covered by the employer. You have the right to receive care from your own personal physician, but this may not be automatically covered. For more information read if you can choose your own doctor.

3. Collect Evidence

Take pictures of the scene of your accident, especially any extenuating circumstances that may be quickly fixed. If you are unable to do this, ask a coworker to do so for you. Make sure you have the contact information of any co-workers who saw your accident.

4. File the Proper Forms

You will have to file a First Report of Injury (WCC Form 12-A), and you may also need to file Form 50 or Form 52. Your employer is also responsible for completing certain forms and submitting them to the insurer and the WCC, but you may need assistance making sure that all of the necessary forms have been filed correctly.

5. Contact an Attorney

Do not wait to get help from Stewart Law Offices. Our lawyers will be able to offer help immediately to recover all of the benefits that you could be eligible to receive. Time limits are very important in most workplace accident claims. In addition to the 90-day requirement for reporting an accident to your employer, you are also subject to a two-year statute of limitations on your claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

You generally have two years from the date of an accident to file a workers’ compensation claim. Injuries can become more complicated when they take several months or years to develop, such as repetitive trauma injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. In such cases, a person has two years from the date that they knew or should have known they suffered such an injury. Repetitive trauma injuries are frequently some of the most difficult kinds of injuries to recover workers’ compensation for because employers aggressively challenge most benefits. These injuries cause very real limitations for victims and workers’ compensation benefits may be available. A lawyer can fight to make sure you are justly compensated in this situation.

How Our Columbia Workers’ Comp Law Firm Can Help

Our lawyers are prepared to conduct an exhaustive and thorough investigation of your accident. We will not only collect important evidence, but we will review the cause of your accident to determine if any additional non-employer third parties could be liable for your injuries.

In some cases, victims may be able to pursue third-party actions in addition to their underlying workers’ compensation claims. These could include lawsuits against the manufacturers of defective machine parts or the drivers of other motor vehicles, for example.

Contact Our Columbia Workers’ Compensation Attorneys For Help

Many workplace accidents involve several complicated elements, and it is easy for a person to be overwhelmed by the challenges of collecting all of the necessary evidence to support their workers’ compensation claims. You do not have to handle all of these demands on your own. Contact our workers’ compensation law firm today to make sure you do not miss any deadlines or form entries that can cause potential delays or worse a denied claim. Stewart Law Offices has been helping employees who have been hurt on the job for more than two decades. You can have one of our lawyers review your case when you call us or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.