South Carolina Workplace Injury Attorney

South Carolina Workplace Accident Attorney

South Carolina Workplace Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered from a life-altering injury while at work, our South Carolina workplace injury lawyer at Keibler Law Group can help you get your or your loved one the compensation they deserve and your life back on track.

Work injuries are one of the most common threats to their livelihoods and financial security of employees. In many cases, work-related injuries don’t even result from a single accident, but a series of small injuries and aches that compound over the years. These include repetitive stress injuries and orthopedic injuries, and they are the most common causes of lost productivity in South Carolia and throughout the country.

Other times, workplace injuries occur suddenly and unexpectedly and can leave a person with injuries that affect them for the rest of their lives. Victims of workplace injuries are often left with mounting medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and fear of costs of future medical treatments. An experienced workplace injury lawyer in South Carolina can help you get your life back to normal and gain the compensation you need for lost earnings, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs.

If you have questions about a potential wrongful death claim in South Carolina, we invite you to call us for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced South Carolina wrongful death lawyer.

What are common workplace injuries in South Carolina?

Industrial and construction jobs are some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. The Federal workplace regulator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified what they call “The Fatal Four.” The “fatal four” are (1) failing from a height; (2) electrocution; (3) impact from falling objections; and (4) getting caught between two hazardous objects. These injuries cause hundreds of deaths each year.

However, not all workplace injuries are fatal. Other common injuries include:

Broken bones
Overexertion
Back injuries
Repetitive motion injuries
Amputations
Burn injuries
Catastrophic injuries
Brain injuries
Injuries from altercations with co-workers.

6 Ways to Prevent Workplace Injuries

Safety begins with the employer and continues to the employee. The employer is responsible for maintaining a safe work-culture and emphasis the need to protect employee’s health and safety. All injuries are preventable.

Wear Personal Protective Equipment

Each industry is different, and each employer needs to take the necessary precautions to protect its employees for the harms they may face. Employers need to train employees in proper use of equipment and to take necessary safety measures. Here are some examples of personal protective equipment that reduce the risk of injury:

Eye protection
Ear protection
Gloves
Hard hats
Steel-toed boots
Harnesses
Reflective clothing

Immediately report and fix safety issues

This seems obvious for many, but unfortunately far too often known safety issues are not reported or fixed. Injuries that result from known safety issues are preventable. It is essential for employers have systems in places that ensure safety issues are reported ad fixed quickly.

Have a system of safety checklists and maintenance for all equipment and vehicles

Regular maintenance is essential on all equipment and vehicles to ensure they are operating as intended and to reduce the risk of injury from the equipment malfunctioning. Proper systems in place to ensure equipment and vehicles are well maintain will reduce the risk of workplace injuries.

Wear appropriate clothing for the working conditions

Dress codes are in place for a reason and must be enforced. Certain clothes are necessary for the particular conditions – both environmental and workplace conditions. If it’s cold, workers should have proper amount of clothing. If its hot, workers should have breathable clothing and a proper amount of rest from the heat.

Proper lighting on your job site

Being able to properly see the work area is essential and reasonable way to reduce risk of injury on the site. A well-lit and visible job site reduces the risk for injury.

Education, education, education

Workplace safety is a cultural shift that begins with education. Regular safety briefings, safety memos, and safety trainings help cultivate a safety-oriented culture.

Can I Sue for my workplace injury? – Yes, it is possible to sue for damages as a result of your injury outside of what is available for workers’ compensation.

What is the difference between workplace injury lawsuit vs. workers’ compensation?

Typically after an accident at work you will file a workers’ compensation claim. These claims are generally covered by your employer or their insurance company. However, sometimes they deny workers’ compensation claims.

The workers’ comp claim, however, may not be your only option. If you cannot file a workers’ compensation claim you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit for your injuries. This means that your injury is the result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence that directly caused your injury.

You may also have a product liability claim if you were injured by a defective product. There are some exceptions to workers’ compensation as well such as exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos. In addition, if a third party causes your injuries, you may be able to sue them directly and in addition to workers’ compensation.

There are many legal options you may have as a result of your workplace injury. This is why it is important to contact an experienced South Carolina workplace injury attorney to evaluate all your options.

If you or a loved is a potential beneficiary to a wrongful death claim or lawsuit, we invite you to call one of our experienced workplace injury lawyers for a Free Case Evaluation.

South Carolina Workplace Injury Statistics

In 2020, employers reported 29,100 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in South Carolina.

In 2019, there are 108 fatal work injuries in South Carolina. Nationwide, 2019 saw a 2% increase in fatal workplace injuries.

In South Carolina, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries is transportation. Violence by other persons or animals was the second leading cause of workplace fatalities. Falls and slips resulted in the third most workplace fatalities in 2019.

Who can sue for a Wrongful Death in South Carolina?

Under South Carolina law, the executor or administrator of the deceased person must file the wrongful death case. An administrator or executor is a person or institution that carries out the terms of the deceased’s will or, if there is no will, distributes the deceased estate according to South Carolina’s probate laws.

Who gets money in a Survival Action in South Carolina?

Recall a survival action is different than a wrongful death action and is in fact a separate claim. The proceeds from a survival action are distributed based on the decedent’s will. If they do not have a will, the proceeds from a verdict or settlement in a survival action will be distributed in the intestate succession laws.