South Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Quick Answer

If you were hurt on the job in South Carolina, workers' compensation may cover your medical care, a portion of your lost wages, and any permanent injury, regardless of who was at fault in most cases. In most cases, you must report an accident to your employer within 90 days and file a claim with the Workers' Compensation Commission within two years. Our firm helps injured workers across South Carolina get their treatment approved, their checks paid correctly, and the full value of their claim, from our offices in Columbia and Myrtle Beach.

Call our office for a free consultation at (803) 790-2800 (Columbia) or (843) 427-2800 (Myrtle Beach), or use the live chat below.

What Happens When You Call Us

Free consultation. Tell us what happened. We'll listen, answer your questions, and give you an honest assessment. There's no cost and no obligation.
We learn your story and review your claim. We take the time to understand your job, your injury, and how it has changed your daily life. We review your medical records, your weekly checks, and any offers from the insurance company.
We handle the insurance company. We become the go-between for you and your employer's workers' comp insurer, so you can focus on getting better. You'll always know where your case stands.

Do You Need a Workers' Comp Lawyer?

Not every workers' comp case needs an attorney, and we'll tell you if yours doesn't.

You may be fine on your own if:

Your injury is minor and you're healing well
Your treatment is being approved without problems
Your weekly checks are arriving on time and in the right amount

It's time to talk with an attorney if:

Your claim was denied, or your checks stopped or never started
The insurance company won't approve treatment, a specialist, or surgery
You received an impairment rating or a settlement offer and aren't sure it's fair
Your injury is permanent, or you can't go back to your job
You were fired, demoted, or pressured after filing or pursuing a workers' comp claim
Someone other than your employer, like a driver or equipment maker, may have caused your injury

What Does a Workers' Comp Lawyer Cost?

You pay nothing up front. Our firm handles workers' comp cases on a contingency fee, and you owe no attorney fees or case costs unless we recover money for you. In South Carolina, attorney fees in workers' comp cases must also be approved by the Workers' Compensation Commission.

Why Injured Workers Choose Our Firm

We look at the whole picture. A work injury affects more than your paycheck. It can change how you care for your family, what you can do around the house, and the kind of work you can do in the future. We look at how the injury affects your work, your medical needs, and the benefits available under South Carolina law.
We look for every source of recovery. Workers' comp doesn't pay for pain and suffering. If someone other than your employer caused your injury, you may also have a third-party injury claim, and we evaluate both from day one.
We keep you informed. You'll get regular updates, and you can always reach us by phone or email.
We're prepared for every outcome. Many claims resolve without a hearing, but we prepare every case so we're ready if the insurance company won't be fair.

Workers' Comp Results for Our Clients

$250,000 Settlement: Back Injury at Work. After an on-the-job accident, our client needed back surgery and was left with serious ongoing pain that kept him from returning to his job. The insurance company fought his claim for years before he hired us. We pursued a permanent and total disability award and protected his right to future medical care, and the case settled for $250,000. Read the full case result.

The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients' cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client's case.

See more of our case results.

What Benefits Can You Receive From Workers' Comp in South Carolina?

South Carolina workers' comp benefits generally include:

Medical care: Doctor visits, hospital care, surgery, prescriptions, therapy, and mileage to and from appointments, as long as the treatment is authorized
Weekly checks: Generally 66 2/3 percent of your average weekly wage, up to a yearly maximum, when your work injury keeps you from working. Here's how workers' comp checks work.
Partial wage benefits: If you're on light duty and earning less than before
Permanent disability benefits: For lasting loss of use of a body part or your ability to work
Death benefits: For families who lose a loved one in a workplace accident

Workers' comp doesn't pay for pain and suffering. Here's what to know about pain and suffering in workers' comp.

How to Protect Your Workers' Comp Claim

Report your injury to a supervisor right away. You must notify your employer within 90 days. Telling a coworker may not count.
See the doctor your employer chooses. In South Carolina, your employer has the right to choose your treating doctor, and bills from other doctors may not be paid. In an emergency, get emergency care first.
Tell the doctor about every injury. Mention everything that hurts, even if it seems minor.
Make sure a claim is filed. Protect your right to benefits by making sure a claim is filed. An injured worker can file a Form 50 with the Workers' Compensation Commission, generally within two years.
Consider suitable light duty carefully. Refusing suitable work within your restrictions can affect or stop your weekly benefits. Here's more on light duty and workers' comp checks.
Talk with a lawyer before signing anything, especially a settlement or a form agreeing you can return to work.

Serious Workplace Injuries and Third-Party Claims

Some workplace injuries change everything: back and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, amputations, and catastrophic injuries that end a career. These cases often involve permanent disability benefits and lifelong medical needs, and every detail matters.

They also frequently involve someone other than your employer. A negligent driver, a defective-product manufacturer, or another third party who is legally responsible for your injury may sometimes be held responsible through a separate personal injury claim, which can include the pain and suffering workers' comp doesn't cover. Learn more about filing both a workers' comp and personal injury claim.

Construction sites are one of the most common places these claims arise. Learn more about construction accident claims.

Where We Help Injured Workers in South Carolina

We help injured workers throughout South Carolina from our two offices. If you or a member of your family are seriously injured, we are happy to travel to you at your home or the hospital. Our offices are conveniently located, and we serve injured people across all of South Carolina

Columbia: 5205 Forest Drive. Learn about our Columbia workers' compensation lawyers.
Myrtle Beach: 2411 N Oak St, Suite 105-F. Learn about our Myrtle Beach workers' compensation lawyers.

South Carolina Workers' Comp Guides

Have a specific question? These guides cover the topics injured workers ask us about most.

Benefits and getting started

Medical care

Settlements and case value

When your case gets complicated

Specific injuries

Talk With a South Carolina Workers' Comp Lawyer

If you're hurt and unsure whether you're being treated fairly, that question alone is worth a conversation. Our team will listen, explain your options in plain language, and give you an honest assessment.

Call our office for a free consultation at (803) 790-2800 (Columbia) or (843) 427-2800 (Myrtle Beach). You owe no attorney fees or case costs unless we recover money for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Legal Process

How long do I have to report a work injury in South Carolina?

In most cases, you must notify your employer within 90 days of the accident and file a claim with the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission within two years.

Can I choose my own doctor for workers' comp in South Carolina?

Generally, no. Your employer has the right to choose your treating doctor. If you want to see a different doctor, you can ask the insurance company, and if they refuse, you can request a hearing.

How much does workers' comp pay in South Carolina?

Weekly checks are generally 66 2/3 percent of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum set each year. You may also receive medical care and permanent disability benefits.

Can I be fired for filing a workers' comp claim in South Carolina?

South Carolina law prohibits an employer from firing or demoting an employee because the employee filed or pursued a workers' compensation claim in good faith. If you were let go or demoted after filing a claim, talk with an attorney.

Do I have to prove my employer was at fault?

Usually not. South Carolina workers' compensation is generally a no-fault system, meaning you usually do not have to prove your employer caused your injury to receive benefits. There are limited exceptions, such as injuries caused by intoxication or an intent to cause harm.

What if someone other than my employer caused my injury?

You may sometimes have a separate personal injury claim against that person or company, which can include compensation for pain and suffering that workers' comp doesn't cover.