Hurting your neck can greatly impact your quality of life and keep you from earning the living wage you need to support yourself and your loved ones. If you can prove you are an eligible worker — such as a full-time employee — and that you were hurt while at work, you may be able to seek benefits through the fault-free workers’ compensation system in South Carolina.
Reach out to a neck injury lawyer at our South Carolina workers’ compensation firm to learn if you qualify for a settlement. At Williams & Roche, LLC, our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience, which includes service on the Workers’ Compensation Commission. We have the tools to take on and understand nearly all aspects of these types of claims, and we welcome the opportunity to help you, too.
Types of Neck Injuries Employees Can Suffer
As the National Safety Council explains, approximately 30,990 neck injuries impacted workers in the United States during 2021-2022. According to the NSC, the median time away from the office because of these types of conditions was 20 days.
Workers are at risk of hurting their necks in many different ways, such as in a job-related car crash, in a slip-and-fall on spilled oil in the backroom, or from products falling off a shelf and striking them. Specific types of conditions an employee may get in these and other situations include a pinched nerve, cervical fracture, whiplash, and spondylosis. These injuries may result in the worker having to take time off work so they can focus on healing and undergo treatments.
Does a Neck Injury Meet the Definition for Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina?
Under South Carolina law, a worker may be eligible for fault-free benefits if they are a qualifying employee and experienced a loss — such as a neck injury — while on the job. People who are regular employees — as opposed to independent contractors — may be covered under a workers’ compensation insurance policy. That said, an independent contractor may qualify for benefits if they meet the law’s definition of a covered employee.
South Carolina includes most workers in the definition of covered employee, including those who are working for a company illegally. For example, if a business breaks the law and hires minors to do regular work for them, the minors may still be eligible for workers’ comp benefits if they get hurt and other conditions are met.
Likewise, a job-related loss includes those that occurred both on and off-site, so long as they occurred while the employee was doing something for their employer. For example, if they get in an auto wreck on their way to a job site, they may qualify for benefits even though they were not physically at work at the time of the incident. So long as the injury keeps the person from doing their job and the other conditions are met, it may meet the legal criteria required for the person to receive benefits.
For those who are hurt in the course of employment, consulting with a reputable neck injury attorney may be beneficial. The legal advocate can help them identify possible courses of action they can take to try to get money to cover their medical bills and lost wages while they heal.
Seeking Compensation and Workers’ Comp Settlements for Neck Injuries
After getting hurt in an accident on the job, you may be unable to earn the wages you could before the incident and have to manage mounting medical bills. If you can prove you are covered by a workers’ comp insurance policy, you may qualify for a settlement to address these losses. The amount you receive and when depends on a host of factors, including the type and extent of your injuries.
While each situation may call for a different result, workers’ comp settlements for neck injuries may include payment of qualifying medical expenses and periodic wages while you heal. Before you see a doctor to treat your wounds, it may be a good idea to make sure your employer knows about and approves of the doctor you are seeing. If you do not get the proper permissions before you see a healthcare provider, you may have difficulties getting reimbursed for those visits.
To qualify for benefits, you also need to file your claim in a certain amount of time. Under South Carolina law, you should tell your employer about the incident or injury within 90 days. You may also need to file a formal claim with the Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years.
How a Workers’ Comp Neck Injury Attorney Can Help You
Seeking benefits because you got hurt at work can feel overwhelming when you are also juggling the stress of day-to-day life. A neck injury lawyer is someone who is in your corner at all steps of the way and is here to defend your right to receive compensation. They can perform extensive research to understand the underlying cause of your wound and what your options are going forward.
They can also help you prepare and submit the proper paperwork to the Workers’ Compensation Commission to help prove your injuries stem from work and entitle you to benefits. A seasoned advocate can also take steps to prepare you for any hearings or other proceedings you need to attend during the claims process. At those hearings, they may also present legal arguments on your behalf.
Let an Experienced Columbia, SC, Neck Injury Lawyer Help You
Experiencing a neck injury — like a pinched nerve or a fractured spine — can significantly impact your life in many ways. Instead of being able to engage in things that bring you a sense of purpose, you may find yourself unable to do tasks or hobbies that fulfill you or allow you to support yourself and those you love. Workers’ compensation laws exist to help injured workers — such as yourself — by connecting them with what they need to move forward.
The team at Williams & Roche, LLC, dedicates its time, energy, and resources to fighting for those who are hurt while on the job. We understand what you are going through, and we welcome the opportunity to develop an effective strategy to help you restore your dignity. Call us today at 803.784.0503 to schedule a no-obligation consultation with a neck injury lawyer in South Carolina you can trust.
