What Are My Rights if I Got Hurt on the Job?

Under South Carolina law, injured workers have a number of rights and legal protections. But the fact that these laws exist is not enough to ensure that a worker is actually protected from employer wrongdoing or retaliation after a work accident. Sometimes, an employee needs a strong legal advocate on his or her side to ensure the employer follows the law.

As a Spartanburg/Greenville workers’ compensation attorney and founder of the Knie & Shealy Law Offices, I work with injured employees to ensure their rights are protected and that they receive the workers’ compensation benefits they are due. If you or a loved one needs help with a workers’ comp claim, contact me, a Spartanburg/Greenville injured worker lawyer, to schedule a free consultation.

Rights of Injured Workers in the Workers’ Comp System

1. If you were hurt on the job, you are entitled to proper medical care paid for by your employer’s workers’ comp carrier.
2. You have a right to a second opinion from a qualified doctor if you disagree with the medical opinion of the company-approved doctor.
3. You have a right to receive all the workers’ compensation you are due for your on-the-job injury, which includes payment for:

• Mileage back and forth to all medical appointments, therapy and the pharmacy
• Lost wages for the time you are out of work AND
• Working wage loss if your wages are lower after you return to work because you now do different job duties or work fewer hours OR
• Nonworking maintenance wage loss or permanent total disability benefits if you are unable to continue at your current job and you cannot find other employment because of your disability
• Permanent injury or disability, such as:
• Awards for scarring of the face, arms or legs
• A lump-sum payment for loss of a limb, loss of use of a limb, loss of vision or loss of hearing
• Permanent partial disability for the percentage of impairment and disability you will continue to have for the remainder of your life
• Future medical benefits

4. You have the right to keep your job if you can do the work after you receive medical treatment.

Contact a Greenville & Spartanburg County Medical Care Attorney

If you have suffered a workplace injury, I can help you pursue compensation for medical care and other damages. Contact me, a Spartanburg/Greenville workers’ compensation lawyer, online or call to schedule an appointment to discuss your case. Consultations are free and confidential.