If you were injured on the job in Columbia or anywhere in South Carolina, your impairment rating can make or break your workers’ compensation case. This number determines how much you receive in disability benefits, and insurance companies know it. That is exactly why they push for the lowest rating possible. If you believe your rating has been undervalued, a Columbia workers’ compensation lawyer can review your case and help you challenge a rating that does not reflect the true extent of your injuries. Understanding what a good impairment rating looks like, how the chart works, and what you can do if your rating seems too low is critical to protecting your benefits.
What is an Impairment Rating in South Carolina Workers’ Compensation?
An impairment rating is a number that represents how much your workplace injury has permanently affected your body. After you reach maximum medical improvement (the point at which your condition is not expected to improve significantly), a doctor assigns a percentage rating to your injury. The higher the percentage, the more severe the permanent damage, and the more compensation you are entitled to receive.
For example, a 10% impairment rating to your back means the doctor has determined you lost 10% of normal function in that body part. This rating directly determines how many weeks of disability benefits you receive under South Carolina law.
How Impairment Ratings Are Determined
In South Carolina, impairment ratings generally follow the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Your treating physician or an independent medical examiner uses these guidelines to evaluate your injury and assign a percentage.
The process usually involves a physical examination, a review of your medical records, and sometimes diagnostic tests, such as X-rays or MRIs. The problem is that the doctor the insurance company sends you to often has an incentive to rate your injury as low as possible. That is not speculation. It is how the system works, and it is something our attorneys at Williams & Roche, LLC have seen firsthand.
What the SC Impairment Rating Chart Means and What Counts as a Good Rating
The workers’ compensation impairment rating chart maps your rating percentage to a specific number of weeks of compensation. In South Carolina, each body part has a maximum number of weeks assigned to it under the schedule of benefits. Your impairment percentage is multiplied by that number to determine your payout.
For example, a back injury that results in over 50% loss of use carries a maximum of 500 weeks. A 15% impairment rating would be multiplied by the maximum weeks for your specific injury. The higher the percentage, the more weeks you receive.
So what is a good impairment rating? There is no single answer because it depends on the severity of your injury. If your rating feels low compared to the pain and limitations you face every day, it may not accurately reflect your condition. A difference of even a few percentage points can mean thousands of dollars in benefits.
If you have questions about whether your rating is fair, call Williams & Roche, LLC at 803.784.0503 for a consultation. We can review your case and help you understand your options.
How Insurance Companies Use Low Ratings to Minimize Your Benefits
Insurance companies save money when your impairment rating is low. That is why they often send injured workers to doctors who consistently assign lower ratings. These independent medical exams (IMEs) are paid for by the insurance company, and the results often favor the insurer.
Common tactics include:
- Rushing the IME so the doctor spends minimal time evaluating your injuries.
- Relying on doctors who are known for assigning conservative ratings.
- Disputing your treating physician’s rating with a lower one from their own doctor.
- Pressuring you to accept a low rating without question.
Having worked on the insurance company’s side before representing injured workers, the attorneys at Williams & Roche, LLC know these tactics firsthand.
How to Challenge a Low Impairment Rating
You do not have to accept the impairment rating the insurance company’s doctor gives you. Here is what you can do:
- Request a second opinion from your own doctor or another qualified physician.
- Ask your treating physician to provide a detailed report explaining why a higher rating is appropriate.
- Gather supporting medical evidence, including imaging, treatment records, and documentation of your ongoing limitations.
- File a dispute through the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission if the insurance company refuses to accept a higher rating.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can guide you through each of these steps and help present the strongest possible case for a fair rating.
Fight for the Rating You Deserve With Williams & Roche, LLC
Your impairment rating is more than a number on a chart. It determines how much compensation you receive for an injury that may affect you for the rest of your life. If the insurance company is pushing a low rating, you have the right to challenge it.
Williams & Roche, LLC has over 50 years of combined legal experience, and our attorneys have worked on all sides of the workers’ compensation system. We have worked within the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission and on the insurance company’s side. Now, we use that knowledge to fight for injured workers throughout South Carolina.
Do not let a low impairment rating cost you the benefits you are entitled to. Contact Williams & Roche, LLC at 803.784.0503 today for a consultation.
