Workplace injuries can turn your life upside down in North Myrtle Beach. You may be facing chronic pain, limited mobility, time out of work, extensive medical bills, and mental health struggles as you work to recover and reclaim your life.
Fortunately, there are legal avenues you can pursue to secure financial support during this difficult time, but you need an experienced workplace injury attorney to guide you.
At Jebaily Law Firm, we have been protecting the rights of hardworking people in South Carolina for over 50 years. Our North Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge and experience needed to pursue the maximum benefits you deserve.
Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation with one of our experienced workplace injury lawyers.
How Our Attorneys Investigate and Build a Strong Workers’ Compensation Case
Our attorneys take a personalized and comprehensive approach to building a compelling case to help you receive your benefits. We do that by taking steps such as:
Investigating and Gathering Evidence
Whether you work at one of the hotels on the beachfront, a construction site near Cherry Grove, a restaurant on Highway 17, or somewhere else in North Myrtle Beach, we know how to investigate the accident and gather the evidence needed to build a strong case.
Collecting Medical Documentation
All successful workers’ comp claims require clear, detailed medical documentation proving the extent and impact of your injuries. We can coordinate with your healthcare providers to secure the medical records, imaging, and reports that tell your whole story.
Reviewing Employer Records
We can look at your employer’s injury logs, safety protocols, OSHA postings, and any history of similar complaints or injuries in the workplace where your accident occurred.
Negotiating with Insurers and Fighting for You at Hearings
We can present a clear, evidence-backed case to your employers’ insurance company, arguing for full benefits for your lost wages, medical expenses, and more. If they refuse to work with us or deny your claim, our attorneys are fully prepared to bring your case before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission.
What to Do After a Work Injury in North Myrtle Beach
If you are hoping to receive workers’ compensation benefits in South Carolina, there are a few things you should do after suffering an injury in the workplace:
- Report the injury immediately. Do not wait to inform your supervisor or manager, preferably in writing. A report creates official documentation linking your injury to the accident and ensures that your employer is made aware of it.
- Seek immediate medical attention. Always get evaluated, even if the injury seems minor at first. Some injuries do not show symptoms until long after they occur, and if you wait to get care, the delay could be used against you when seeking benefits.
- Gather evidence. Take accident scene photos and videos documenting the hazards that caused your injury, collect witness contact information, save copies of all medical bills, prescriptions, invoices, receipts, and communications with your employer.
- Call our workers’ compensation lawyers. An experienced attorney from Jebaily Law Firm can help you build the strongest case possible while avoiding critical errors along the way. Contact us as soon as you are able.
Common Workplace Injuries We Handle in North Myrtle Beach
Our North Myrtle Beach workers’ compensation attorneys have represented clients suffering from a wide range of work-related injuries across various industries. Some of the most common and most severe workplace injuries include:
- Trips, slips, and falls
- Back and neck injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Burns and chemical exposures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Whether an injury is deemed minor or severe, it can have a tremendous impact on your daily life, finances, and ability to work. We fight for your right to receive benefits that reflect those impacts.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits You May Be Eligible for in North Myrtle Beach
Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may have access to several types of workers’ compensation benefits under South Carolina law. Those benefits may include:
- Medical benefits – Workers’ comp can cover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your injuries, including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and more.
- Temporary total disability benefits – If you are temporarily unable to work, you may receive partial income replacement while you recover. Wage-replacement benefits are typically equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a cap.
- Temporary partial disability benefits – If you can return to work but in a limited capacity, workers’ comp benefits may offset part of the difference between your pre- and post-injury wages.
- Permanent partial disability benefits – If your injury causes lasting impairment that impacts your ability to earn a living, you may receive a lump-sum payment or structured award based on an impairment rating determined by a doctor’s evaluation.
- Permanent total disability benefits – If your injuries have rendered you unable to work ever again, you may be entitled to 500 weeks of benefits, or lifelong benefits, in some cases.
How and When to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in North Myrtle Beach
To obtain workers’ compensation benefits in South Carolina, you must:
Notify Your Employer
You have 90 days from the date of the incident to notify your employer of your injury. However, the sooner you inform them, the better. Once notified, your employer must file an injury report with their insurance carrier and inform the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission within 10 days.
File a Claim
If your employer or their insurer denies your claim for workers’ comp benefits, you will need to file a formal claim with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years of the date of the injury. Our attorneys can handle that process for you.
Possibly Participate in Hearings
We can lead you through any hearings, depositions, or informal conferences required by the Commission. That will include prepping you for what to expect, presenting evidence, questioning witnesses, and calling on expert witnesses as needed.
Negotiate for a Settlement
Many cases resolve through negotiations. We will take on the insurance company and fight for the benefits you deserve.
What Medical Treatments Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation in North Myrtle Beach?
When your claim is accepted, you may be entitled to all reasonable and necessary medical treatments related to your injury, including:
- Emergency care
- Follow-up visits
- Diagnostic imaging
- Prescribed medications
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy
- Surgeries
Contact Our North Myrtle Beach Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today
Were you hurt at work in North Myrtle Beach and need a lawyer? Jebaily Law Firm is ready to fight for the maximum workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. We offer not only fierce representation to our clients, but also the compassion and understanding they need to see their claim through and continue along the road to recovery.
Contact us today for your free consultation about your workers’ compensation claim.
Workers' Compensation
Can I File for Workers’ Compensation Benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
Yes. However, if you are approved for both workers’ compensation benefits and SSDI, the money you receive from SSDI can be reduced if you receive more than 80 percent of your average pre-injury wages from the combination of workers’ comp and SSDI.
How Long Can a Workers’ Compensation Claim Stay Open in SC?
Workers’ compensation benefits can be paid for up to 500 weeks, although payments may continue for the rest of a worker’s life if they sustain permanent, total disability.
If you have been injured at work, reach out to Jebaily Law Firm for a free case review to speak with our South Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys. Get answers. Get Help.
How Long Can It Take to Receive a Check Upon Settlement of a Workers’ Compensation Case?
If you’ve settled your workers’ compensation claim with your employer and its insurer, the funds will be released when the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission approves the settlement. The process typically takes about one to two months, though every case is unique.
What If I Can’t Return to Work After My Workers’ Compensation Injury?
You will begin to receive income replacement benefits after missing 8 calendar days of work.
Who Is Covered by Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina?
Any employee of a covered employer may receive workers’ compensation for a work injury. Covered employers include most employers with four or more employees. Even part-time and seasonal employees are entitled to workers’ compensation.
What Types of Injuries May Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Workers’ compensation benefits cover worker-related injuries and occupational illnesses. To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, an injury must arise out of and in the course of your employment.
How Much of My Medical Expenses Will Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Medical benefits in South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system are supposed to cover the full cost of all reasonable and necessary treatment and rehabilitation for a work injury or occupational illness.
What Benefits Are Available from the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Program?
Under South Carolina’s workers’ compensation law, you may be entitled to receive benefits that include:
- Medical benefits, including reimbursement for qualifying travel to and from appointments or procedures
- Income replacement benefits, which can make up a portion of your lost income if you cannot work or take a lower-paying job or position
- Death benefits paid to the family of a worker whose death is caused by a work injury
Can I Use My Own Health Insurance Instead of Claiming Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
You should not use your health insurance policy to get treatment for a work-related injury. Some private health insurance policies expressly exclude coverage for work-related healthcare. If you use your health insurance to get medical care for a work injury, your insurer may have the right to demand reimbursement from your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer.
How do I know if I have a workers’ compensation claim?
There are several things we must know to determine if you have a workers’ compensation case:
- You must have been hurt on the job.
- The injury must have occurred while working within the scope and course of your employment.
- You should seek advice from an experienced attorney. At Jebaily Law Firm, we will meet with you for a consultation to discuss your case. We have more than 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation.
- Schedule a medical examination. We will work with you and the insurance company to arrange an appointment with a doctor or specialist to evaluate your health and work-related conditions. Exposure to dust, fumes, asbestos, chemicals, etc. may cause conditions that you are not even aware exist. An examination can help protect your health and your legal rights.
What about my benefits?
Benefits are provided to you through the insurance carrier for your employer. You may be entitled to the following:
- You should be paid for the time your doctor has you out of work. However, you are not entitled to compensation until you have been out of work at least 8 days.
- Your medical bills should be paid by your employer or your employer’s insurance carrier.
- You should be reimbursed for mileage to and from your doctor’s appointments. You must travel at least 5 miles each way in order to be reimbursed for mileage.
- Your prescription medications and approved medical supplies should be paid for by your employer or the insurance carrier.
- Under the law, you may be entitled to additional compensation if you are permanently injured, even if you can still work.
How do I pay an attorney?
Before a lawyer can charge a fee on a workers’ compensation case, the fee must be approved by the S.C. Workers Compensation Commission. Commission rules require that no lawyer’s fee exceed one-third of the amount recovered. The one-third must be based on the amount disputed and may not be calculated on weekly benefits the employer voluntarily pays to the injured worker.
How will my compensation rate be calculated?
Generally speaking, workers are entitled to workers’ compensation at a rate of 66-2/3 percent of his or her average weekly wage (which is based on the previous four quarters before you sustained your injury) but no more than the maximum average weekly wage that is pre-determined by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission on a yearly basis. A workers’ compensation attorney can further advise you about your possible compensation rate if you have additional questions.
Will I be fired from my job if I file a claim?
An injured worker who is fired for filing a workers compensation claim may have a cause of action for wrongful termination and retaliatory discharge. If this occurs, by all means speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
How do I file a workers’ comp claim?
If your employer doesn’t report your accident or denies that you’ve been hurt, you can file a claim on your own. You will want to file your own claim if you think that you did not get all of the benefits due to you. In order to file a claim, you will need to turn in a Form 50 or Form 52 to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Get help from our South Carolina workers’ compensation attorney now.
What do you do if you have a work-related injury?
If you are injured on the job, you should report the injury to your supervisor immediately. The workers’ compensation laws require that you report your injury within 90 days from the date of the injury. When reporting the injury, you should note the time, place of injury, how you were injured, the injuries received, and names of witnesses. You should also keep a copy of this information. To receive benefits your claim must be filed with the S.C. Worker’s Compensation Commission within two years from the date of injury.
What types of accidents are covered?
To be eligible to workers’ compensation benefits, you must have been injured within the scope and course of your employment. All injuries are not “accidents.” Some are caused by repetitive motion, exposure to harmful substances, or extraordinary or unusual conditions of the job. If the work you do causes pain that you believe needs medical attention, we might be able to help. Generally, most injuries suffered by an employee during working hours at the employer’s place of business would qualify.
