Experiencing a disabling back injury can set you back emotionally, physically, and financially. While nothing can truly reverse what happened, exercising your rights under the fault-free workers’ compensation system may help you secure the resources you need to get back on your feet. Partnering with a South Carolina back injury lawyer at Williams & Roche, LLC, can help you get a fair settlement in your time of need. We can create agile and effective solutions that seek to put your best interests first throughout the case. Our workers’ compensation team understands what is on the line and how important it is for you to access what may be rightfully yours under the law.
Which Workers Are Most at Risk of a Back Injury?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021 to 2022, there were 250,830 back injuries across all industries in the United States. Many people are at risk of getting a back injury at work, regardless of their chosen profession. That said, those who work for BMW, drive trucks for Amazon, and are in the construction industry may experience injuries at a higher rate. Every day, these hard-working people spend their days in high-pressure, dangerous, and fast-paced environments that test their minds and bodies.
If you are hurt on the job, you deserve to get the benefits the law entitles you to. Unfortunately, the process of claiming these benefits —and figuring out what you qualify for — may be challenging without the legal help of a back injury lawyer. Collaborating with a seasoned back injury lawyer can give you the peace of mind in knowing a highly-trained team has your back every step of the way.
BMW workers
BMW factory workers perform repetitive and strenuous tasks every day. They may twist their backs when reaching or turning to grab something or pull their muscles when trying to lift heavy equipment. They may sustain a spinal cord injury when a piece of equipment malfunctions or falls on them.
Amazon drivers
Someone who delivers packages for Amazon is under a lot of pressure to reach a target number of deliveries — and quickly. To fulfill these customer orders, drivers have to pick up dozens of boxes every day, which places extra strain on their bodies and increases their chance of tweaking their backs or falling and hurting themselves in the process. Likewise, being on the road so often makes it more likely they will be hurt in a work-related car crash.
Construction workers
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2023, there were about 14,000 non-fatal injuries caused by construction workers getting struck by objects in the field during 2020. Employees may get hurt by falling debris, trips and falls from ladders, or malfunctioning machinery.
Common Types of Back Injuries from Accidents at Work
An employee may get hurt in a slip, trip, and fall, a car crash, dangerous occupational exposure, or repetitive trauma. According to the Mayo Clinic, you get a herniated disk when the center of the cushions — i.e., disks — that sit between the bones in your back slip out or bulge out.
Herniated disks may occur from gradual and intensive use of your body, such as through hard manual labor.
Likewise, single, traumatic events — like an auto wreck or a fall from heights like a roof or ladder — may damage your spine. Sprains, strains, and pinched nerves are also common forms of back injuries.
Each of these conditions can be uncomfortable and limiting and greatly impact your ability to function. Taking steps to claim a back injury workers’ comp settlement may be in your best interest to help you get the financial support you need as you heal.
How to Prove a Back Injury at Work
During the claims process, you may have to prove your accident occurred and is work-related.
Part of this involves taking photos of the incident. You may benefit from going to a doctor close in time to when you became or realized you were injured. When speaking with the doctor, be clear that you believe your condition is work-related.
You should also notify your employer about the incident within 90 days after it occurs, according to South Carolina law. If your condition is because of repetitive trauma, the 90-day clock may begin ticking when you realize the injury is work-related.
What Is a Typical Workers’ Comp Settlement for a Back Injury?
Each back injury workers comp case is different, so that the outcome will differ based on that specific situation. According to South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Law, here are some examples of what an employee might receive if they win their claim:
- Medical expenses: Your employer may cover the costs of your accident-related expenses, assuming you go to an approved doctor and get permission to see the doctor beforehand.
- Wage loss payments: If your condition keeps you from working, you may qualify for wage loss payments while you recover.
- Permanent disability: If your condition permanently disables you, you may receive long-term wage loss payments.
How much and how long the person continues to get these benefits change from one circumstance to the next. The final settlement figure may change depending on the extent of the person’s injury and how much they earned in wages prior to the incident. Likewise, their ability (or inability) to continue working after they heal can also play a role in this.
Our Firm’s Approach to Representing Injured Workers in Compensation Claims
At Williams & Roche, LLC, we understand the very real impacts a back injury can have on an individual and family. Getting hurt can rob you of your sense of purpose and identity and strain your finances because you cannot earn the wages you could before the incident.
Our diverse background includes working for insurance companies, the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and now, for injured workers. We leverage our extensive experience on all sides of this industry to create effective case strategies for our clients.
We take the time to understand what happened to you and how it impacted your life. By taking decisive action as your attorneys — such as filing claims documents and presenting legal arguments on your behalf — we can seek to protect your rights and maximize your settlement package.
Contact a Workers’ Comp Back Injury Lawyer in South Carolina
Spraining your back, pulling a muscle, or suffering a spinal cord injury while doing your job can set you back in many ways — potentially for years to come. While South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act may entitle you to fault-free benefits, taking steps to claim these can feel frustrating and overwhelming. Insurance companies and employers may make people jump through what seems like endless hoops before giving them a chance to receive benefits.
When you are in this position and feel like you need some help and guidance, contact a South Carolina back injury lawyer at Williams & Roche, LLC. We provide free, no-obligation consultations, so you do not have to worry about affording to meet with a workers’ comp lawyer to discuss your options.