Columbia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

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I enjoyed Ms. Andrea as my lawyer and a friend, she’s a awesome lawyer, and if asked...who can help me. I always and will refer Ms. Andrea, she’s a good listener and will fight for you and every way if possible. Her staff is very nice also. You have any questions, she’ll be the one to answer them or will get you the help and answer you need. I love my lawyer/friend she’s the BEST!!! Never been a disappointed moment.
Wateka Brice

About Us

Injured? We’re Here For You.

Williams & Roche is dedicated to helping injured people across our state get the legal representation they deserve. With over 50 years of combined legal experience, you can rest assured your case is in good hands. Call us for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.*

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Workers’ Compensation

The medical care you need should be paid for if you have been injured or fallen ill while working on the job. Our Columbia Workers Compensation Lawyers at Williams & Roche, help injured workers navigate their claims in the workers’ compensation system. Call us for a free consultation.*

Personal Injury

Have you been seriously injured in a car accident, truck accident, slip and fall, or negligence by another? Are you wondering how to get compensation for your injuries? At Williams & Roche, we help the injured get the compensation they deserve. Call us for a free consultation.*

Meet The Team

We’ve Seen It From All Sides

Derrick L. Williams and Andrea C. Roche, the founders of Williams & Roche, spent their early legal career representing insurance companies against injured people. They then spent a combined 14 years as South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissioners presiding and ruling on cases between injured workers and their employers/insurance carriers. After leaving the Commission, both decided to devote their law practice to using this experience by helping injured South Carolinians get reliable, compassionate, and effective representation.

Practice Areas

Cases We Handle

Back Injuries

Experiencing a back injury can set you back emotionally, physically, and financially. Learn how to exercise your rights under the fault-free workers’ compensation system. We can help you navigate your claim.

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Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to your spine can completely alter your life . When you injure your spine, you may be entitled to benefits through South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system. Our team can help you navigate this process.

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Workers' Compensation

If you have been injured or fallen ill while working on the job, you should not have to worry about medical care or other major expenses. Let our team at Williams & Roche, LLC protect your right to fair compensation

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Personal Injury

A personal injury lawyer helps victims of accidents or negligence receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering.

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Shoulder Injuries

Hurting your shoulder can put you out of work entirely while you recover. A shoulder injury attorney at Williams & Roche, LLC can help.

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Brain & Head Injuries

If your work environment caused or contributed to your brain injury, you may be entitled to fault-free benefits. Learn more about TBIs and get the compensation you deserve.

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Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Workers’ Compensation
Why Should I Hire An Attorney?

The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation system has many different deadlines and benefits that may not be clear to the average person. The attorneys at Williams & Roche can help you understand all of your rights under the law.

What If I Am Told I Do Not Have A Case By The Employer Or The Insurance Company?

You may still have a case! What constitutes a workers’ compensation case depends on many factors, some more obvious than others. To understand the nuances of the workers’ compensation system, contact us for a consultation.

How Will I Be Paid When I Am Out Of Work?

When a doctor writes you completely out of work, or if you are written out of work on light duty status, and there is no work available for you, you may be entitled to weekly benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The amount would be 66.667% of what you typically earn in gross wages in a week. If you are concerned about your pay while you are out of work, contact Williams & Roche.

What If The Accident Was My Fault?

The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation system is a “no fault” system. In most cases, as long as you were doing your job, it doesn’t matter if the accident was your fault or not. Contact Williams & Roche for legal guidance after any accident.

What If I Had A Prior Injury Or Medical Condition Before My Work Accident Occurred?

Having a pre-existing medical issue, or having had a prior work injury, does not necessarily preclude you from having a new work injury, especially if the accident aggravated your underlying issue. The attorneys at Williams & Roche can help you to assess whether you would have a compensable claim under South Carolina law. Contact us for a free consultation.

Can I Be Fired If I Am Injured On The Job?

An employer may not fire you in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. The employer does not, however, have to hold your job open if you are injured at work. Contact us if you think you have been wrongly terminated because of your injury or for filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Can I See My Own Doctor?

Generally, in South Carolina, your employer and its insurance carrier is entitled to choose your medical provider. There can be exceptions to this, however. If you have concerns about your medical treatment, contact Williams & Roche.

Insurance companies and employers can throw all sorts of hurdles, making your workers’ compensation claims process much harder. They can also complicate your life when you are already receiving benefits. You should consider hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to protect your rights. Reach out to the Columbia workers compensation lawyers at Williams & Roche to discuss your case and learn how we can help.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

The American legal system has numerous protections for workers. In addition to laws that prevent discrimination and govern how employees are paid, most states have a mandate that employers carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect injured employees.

Workers’ compensation is there to give you a safety net when you are injured and unable to do your job as you did before you were hurt. You may be partially or fully unable to work for either a temporary or permanent amount of time. Either way, you are entitled to both medical care and part of your lost wages until you are able to work again. You do not need to pay for workers’ compensation insurance yourself. Instead, it is an expense that your employer must bear as their own cost of doing business.

Workers’ compensation is a legal process that is governed by South Carolina law. Accordingly, you have rights as an injured employee. Nonetheless, you need someone, like our columbia workers compensation lawyers, to look out for your legal rights because they are perpetually at risk.

South Carolina Employers Must Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance

The law in South Carolina is very clear. Employers who have four or more workers on the payroll must either purchase workers’ compensation insurance, or they must self-insure against claims. If an employer does not have workers compensation insurance, they can be forced to deal with the following consequences:

  • Employees can file a claim against an uninsured employers fund, and the employer can be handed the bill and made to pay for the claim costs
  • The employee can sue the employer in a personal injury lawsuit, and they may be entitled to significant financial compensation if they can prove that the employer was negligent. Usually, employers who purchase workers’ compensation insurance are immune from employee lawsuits in nearly every circumstance.

It is very rare that an employer does not have some form of workers’ compensation insurance because they know the consequences they may face.

Most Common Workers Comp Claims

Workers’ compensation claims encompass both job-related injuries and illnesses. You may file a workers’ compensation claim under some of the following circumstances:

  • You have been hurt in a one-time accident
  • The physical effects of your job have caused you repetitive overuse injuries over time
  • You have been exposed to people or toxic substances on the job that have sickened you
  • The stress of your job has caused mental health issues that make you unable to perform your duties

Sprains and strains are the most common workers’ compensation scenarios, accounting for roughly one-third of claims.  While you may think that it is relatively straightforward to show that you have suffered a work-related injury, the insurance company may have other ideas. They are more likely to grant claims when they can see a specific accident that caused your injuries.

Insurance companies are more likely to deny claims when you are reporting symptoms that you are experiencing that may not necessarily show up on an objective test result.

How the Workers’ Compensation System Works in South Carolina

You are legally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits when you can show that you have suffered a job-related injury or illness. First, you would need to notify your employer of your injury within 90 days of it occurring.

Then, you would file a claim with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. They would then forward the claim to your employer and their insurance company. You would then receive a decision about whether your benefits have been granted.

Your Benefits in a Workers Compensation Claim

When you were able to prove that you have suffered a job-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to the following benefits under South Carolina law:

  • Two-thirds of your average weekly wage before the time that you were injured, subject to a cap that is set by South Carolina law
  • Reasonable and necessary medical expenses to treat your injuries
  • Prescriptions and other medical equipment that are necessary in light of your physical condition

While you may think that your actual compensation is straightforward, insurance companies and employers often make it more difficult due to their own financial interests.

Workers’ Compensation Is an Exclusive Remedy

Under South Carolina law, you cannot sue your employer in a personal injury lawsuit under practically every circumstance. Your employer has paid premiums for workers’ compensation insurance, and the law gives them some reward. Employers are immune from virtually every lawsuit.

Workers’ Compensation Claims Present Continuing Legal Issues

Even if you have received workers’ compensation benefits already, it does not mean that you will not experience legal issues. One of the most common challenges faced by injured workers is an independent medical examination. Once you are told that you need to see the doctor, there is always a chance that you will be told that you need to return to work. Then, you may need to appeal when your benefits are cut because you have not returned to work.

In addition, you may also need to fight to get the medical care that you need. The insurance company may claim that the recommended care is either not necessarily necessary or unreasonable. You may need to battle the insurance company all along to get them to cover certain treatments that you need.

Why Hire a Workers Compensation Lawyer?

The insurance company has a financial motivation to make your life more difficult. Anything that they pay towards your claim is money out of their own pocket. They could complicate matters at every step of the way because they simply want you to go away. When you hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, the insurance company knows that they cannot get away with much.

Workers’ compensation lawyers help you fight back if the insurance company is denying you your rights. Additionally, your lawyer represents your interests during every step of the process.

Ultimately, your attorney could negotiate a settlement on your behalf where you would receive a lump sum payment for your benefits.

Contact Our Columbia Workers Compensation Lawyers Today

The attorneys at Williams & Roche have a unique vantage point because we have seen workers’ compensation claims and the litigation process from many angles. We can bring our experience to bear for you as we stand up to help you get everything to which you are entitled under South Carolina law. The first step is to get in touch with us to schedule a free initial consultation with our Columbia workers compensation lawyers. You can contact us through our website, or you can call us today at 803.784.0503.

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