In South Carolina, there are over 13,000 doctors and nearly 60,000 nurses. In addition to care providers, there are tens of thousands of other people who work in support of the medical profession. These medical professionals subject themselves to numerous hazards on the job each day. While the medical profession does not always involve physical labor, there is a higher rate of injury due to its grueling nature. If you are a medical professional who has been injured or sickened on the job, you may be able to file for workers’ compensation benefits. Schedule a free initial consultation with a hospital injury lawyer at Williams & Roche to discuss your potential claim or workers’ compensation legal issue.
Rates of Injuries Among Medical Professionals
Before 2020, roughly 2% of medical professionals were sickened or injured on the job in any given year. Throughout a medical professional’s career, there is a high chance that they would miss time from work for at least one injury or illness.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of injury for healthcare workers skyrocketed because they were exposed to the virus. Although injury rates have receded to pre-pandemic levels, Healthcare professionals still face serious risks every time they come to work. Thankfully, the workers’ compensation system should at least provide some protection when they cannot work and earn money.
Injuries That Medical Professionals Can Suffer on the Job
- Occupational Illnesses: Medical professionals can be exposed to countless hazardous conditions because of their proximity to sickened patients and harmful bacteria. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the dangers that healthcare professionals face daily, as many of them lost their lives treating sick patients.
- Back Injuries: Medical professionals stand on their feet all day long, and they often bend over to pick things up off the floor. Many of them lift heavy weights or push carts. They can suffer back injuries from a single traumatic event or overuse.
- Mental Health Conditions: Medical professionals work under an extreme amount of stress daily. They are often asked to care for more patients than they can handle and under grueling conditions. Some can suffer from intense stress, or they may even develop post-traumatic stress disorder after what they have seen.
- Slip and Fall Injuries: Medical professionals walk quite a bit in the course of their jobs every day. Especially when they are working in a hospital, they may face dangers from slippery substances or equipment left in the middle of their walking path. Hospitals have hard floors and many pieces of furniture and equipment that employees can hit when they fall.
What to Do After a Medical Workplace Injury or Illness
Perhaps the most critical step that you need to take to preserve your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits is to notify your employer of the injury. You should remain on the side of caution and inform your employer of your condition immediately. South Carolina law gives you up to 90 days to report your injury. Even though you may be able to report the injury verbally, try to do it in writing, so you have a record.
Under South Carolina law, you cannot choose your doctor. Your employer would designate a physician for you to see so that you can be diagnosed and treated for your injuries. See the doctor as soon as possible, and make sure to follow all of their treatment recommendations.
You may want to consider hiring a hospital injury lawyer at the outset of the workers’ compensation claim process, especially if your injury could result in a more difficult claim. Certainly, you would need an attorney if the insurance company indicates that they may not respond favorably to your claim.
Challenges Related to Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
One of the main reasons medical professionals’ workers’ compensation claims may be denied is that the insurance company claims that the injury is not related to their job. They may argue that the illness was caused by something else or was a pre-existing condition. This is even more true in medical workers’ compensation claims when hospital employees can be exposed to several illnesses. The mere fact that workers are around so many hazards makes an insurance company more likely to challenge your claim.
Employers may also try to contest your claim whenever possible. They already pay high workers’ compensation insurance premiums because of the nature of the industry. Your employer does not want their rates to go up further, and more claims will push insurance companies to raise the premiums.
How the Hospital Injury Lawyers at Williams & Roche Can Help You
There are almost no straightforward workers’ compensation claims. Even if you make your way past the approval of your initial claim, you may have difficulties when you are told to go back to work or if necessary medical care is denied.
When you hire the attorneys at Williams & Roche, we can do the following for you:
- Help you document your injury
- Prepare the initial claim on your behalf
- Represent you in a proceeding in front of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission if your initial claim has been denied
- Negotiate a workers’ compensation settlement on your behalf
- Help prepare you for an independent medical examination
- Fight back on your behalf if you are told that you can fully return to work before you are fully healed from your injury
Contact a Hospital Workplace Injury Lawyer in Columbia, SC
At Williams & Roche, we have seen all sides of the workers’ compensation process and know how the insurance company will view your case. We are former Commissioners who have decided workers’ compensation cases, so we know how to help prepare your claim and fight on your behalf. You must contact us as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.
Reach out to us through our website or call us today at 803.784.0503.
