Work injuries happen every day for many different reasons. While high-risk jobs like construction and industrial work see the most severe injuries, accidents can happen in any field, including an office job.
If you were injured at work, you might wonder what to do next, especially if you have had to take time off to recover and medical bills are piling up. Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in South Carolina can save you from going through this process alone.
The Most Common Workplace Injuries
Some accidents occur from entirely unforeseen circumstances, which lead to severe injuries. While these situations do come up, there are more common incidents that someone might experience at their workplace, including:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common ways to get injured at work. These injuries can occur for several reasons, like icy weather, poor lighting, tripping hazards, and more.
Machine Accidents
If your job requires the use of heavy machinery, as used in the agriculture and construction fields, accidents caused by close proximity to these dangerous machines can lead to severe work injuries.
Vehicle Accidents
When your work requires vehicles such as delivery trucks, tractor-trailers, garbage trucks, emergency response vehicles, farm equipment, or passenger cars, a higher rate of injuries is usually tied to it. Accidents like being hit by a vehicle, falling from a vehicle, or even getting crushed underneath one all lead to severe injuries.
Fire and Explosion Accidents
Fires and explosions typically involve tragic accidents with a high number of casualties; at the very least, these workplace injuries are severe, if not fatal.
If you’ve experienced injuries from one of these accidents or from one of the many not mentioned, it’s important to act quickly after the incident. So, what should you do?
Next Steps After Being Injured at Work
After getting injured at work, there are two steps that should be your highest priority to accomplish.
1. Receive Medical Attention
If your injuries were severe enough, you may have been sent to the ER immediately following your accident, in which case this step is obvious and has already been followed. However, if you have less emergent injuries and are unsure if medical attention is necessary, you should not skip this step. No matter the degree of injury, you need to receive medical attention immediately and should never skip seeing a doctor for any reason. If your employer was unaware of the accident, you also need to report it to them before going to the ER or urgent care.
After filing for workers’ compensation, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier will have a list of doctors you can see that are covered under their policy. These doctors are the best to see as they are certified to treat injured workers.
2. Report The Accident
Telling your employer immediately after you have been injured will ensure that an accident report gets filed quickly. When urgent medical care is necessary, you may be unable to do much more than verbally report your injuries after the accident. However, you must remember to provide your employer with written notice. According to S.C. Ann § 42-15, you may receive a denial of benefits if you fail to report your injury or condition to your employer within 90 days.
Speak with A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in South Carolina Today
When it comes to your workers’ compensation claim, there are a number of mistakes that can lead to the denial of your claim. Getting the help of an experienced attorney can ensure this doesn’t happen, allowing you to receive the full compensation you are entitled to. At the Hammack Law Firm, we believe you shouldn’t have to struggle for the benefits you are owed, and we make it our mission to fight for your claim so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Call us at (864) 766-7108 to receive your FREE consultation today!
With over 25 years of legal experience, Paul Hammack provides his clients with a level of trial expertise and strategic insight rarely found in personal injury litigation. Having spent the first eight years of his career working within major insurance defense firms across Georgia and South Carolina, Paul gained an intimate understanding of the “other side’s” playbook. This insurance industry background serves as a unique differentiator for his clients; he knows exactly how insurance carriers evaluate risk and what motivates them to pay top dollar for a claim.
In 2008, Paul founded Hammack Law Firm to move away from the “plaintiff mill” model and focus on building personal relationships with those he represents. As a seasoned litigator, he has tried dozens of first-chair cases to verdict, specializing in high-stakes litigation involving catastrophic injuries and complex truck accidents. His dual-state practice allows him to provide aggressive representation across both South Carolina and Georgia, ensuring victims of negligence receive the maximum financial compensation possible regardless of which side of the state line the accident occurred.
Paul’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his record of significant achievements, including a $10 million tractor-trailer wrongful death settlement and a $3.9 million moped-versus-truck recovery. His credentials and bar admissions in both South Carolina and Georgia underscore his deep roots in the regional legal community. Beyond the courtroom, Paul is a dedicated advocate for his local community, contributing his time and resources to organizations such as the United Way, Red Cross, and Hands On Greenville, all while working to make South Carolina a safer place for everyone.
