Did you or a family member sustain an accident while working at a construction site in Gaffney, SC? If so, you might have the option to seek compensation to cover your medical expenses and other losses. A Gaffney construction accident lawyer can step in to help you right away.
Our personal injury team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has experience handling workers’ compensation cases throughout the Gaffney area. Allow us to walk you through each step of the claims process, starting immediately after the accident.
Your Next Steps After a Gaffney Construction Accident
Your actions matter when it comes to construction accidents in Gaffney. The way you handle the aftermath of your injuries may influence your ability to seek compensation for your losses. Our team recommends that you:
Report the Accident Immediately
Do not wait to tell your employer about the accident that led to your injury. File an official injury or accident report and request a copy of the report for your own records. Make sure you create a paper trail showing that the accident occurred.
Gather Some Evidence
You may be able to support your claims about the accident if you collect evidence immediately. If you have your phone with you, you could take pictures of the place where the accident occurred and your injury. Speak with any coworkers or customers who saw the incident and ask for their contact information.
Get Medical Treatment
If you got hurt on the job, seek medical care from the professionals. Visit a healthcare facility and allow them to diagnose and treat your injuries. Make sure you follow all orders issued by the doctors.
Failing to adhere to medical recommendations can make it harder to secure damages through a workers’ compensation claim, so follow all instructions to the letter.
Under South Carolina law, you must go to the doctor your employer selects. If you go to a different doctor, your employer may not have to cover your losses. An exception to this law exists if you have an emergency condition that requires immediate care.
Retain Out to a Lawyer
Navigating South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system can prove challenging. Fortunately, you do not have to try to take on the system on your own. You can get professional help from a Gaffney construction accident attorney.
Our team provides personalized advice as we help you fill out all requisite forms, deal with your employers, and assess your legal options.
Injuries Associated With Working Construction in Gaffney
Despite the importance of the field, construction workers face many hazards every time they go to work. Injuries often occur when workers:
- Are struck by falling items
- Get electrocuted
- Become caught between equipment or machinery
Construction workers may also become exposed to dangerous chemicals on the job site. Malfunctioning tools or improper safety equipment may also lead to an accident on a construction site. Our team can step in to help you after any of these occurrences.
Compensation Offered for Construction Accidents in Gaffney
You may apply for workers’ compensation after an accident on a construction site in Gaffney. The compensation you receive may depend upon the kind of injuries you received and the amount of medical care you require to recover.
Many construction workers end up received damages to cover their:
- Expenses for an ambulance ride and treatment in the emergency room (ER)
- Hospital stays
- Medical tests and procedures
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and medications
You may not be able to go back to work again immediately after a construction accident. In this situation, workers’ compensation may pay a portion of your average weekly wages to help you cover your expenses.
The workers’ compensation system may also help you pay for work retraining if you cannot go back to your old job after an accident. Speak to us about all your options for compensation after an accident.
Legal Issues Surrounding Fault With Construction Accidents
South Carolina has a no-fault system for workers’ compensation. Therefore, you can generally secure compensation through the system without proving that your employer directly caused your accident.
However, employers in South Carolina do not have to provide compensation in all cases. Your employer might deny you damages if your accident occurred while you were impaired by alcohol or if you acted intentionally to harm yourself, for example.
Additionally, due to the no-fault aspect of workers’ compensation laws in Gaffney, you generally cannot file a lawsuit against your employer. However, if a third-party caused your accident, you may have additional legal options.
We Handle All Aspects of Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
You don’t have to worry about filing paperwork and supplying evidence regarding your accident when working with a construction accident lawyer. Our team helping Gaffney addresses all your legal needs and keeps you informed about the status of your claim.
We prefer to get to work right away on workers’ compensation cases. As other personal injury claims, you usually only have two years to bring a claim for a workers’ compensation case. We can move quickly to address your needs and discuss your legal options.
Talk To a Lawyer About Your Claim Today
You can start building a workers’ compensation claim after an on-the-job accident with our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC. Start working with a Gaffney construction accident lawyer to learn more and discuss your options for compensation.