Workers’ Compensation
You May Be Entitled To Compensation
If you were injured on the job, have developed a job-related illness, or if a loved one suffered a wrongful death due to an accident at work, you may be eligible for financial assistance via Workers’ Compensation laws. Your employer may be responsible for any medical bills that may arise from your injury or illness — not just the initial hospital bill. If your occupational disability has left you unable to work for any period of time, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, and if you have suffered a permanent disability or disfigurement, you should receive continued financial assistance.
CONTACT US
We Will Fight For Your Rights
Unfortunately, many workers injured on the job find that they have to fight for the compensation they are entitled to. Speaking with a Workers’ Compensation attorney about the details of your claim can ensure that you receive all the benefits you deserve in a timely manner. The Lokey Law Firm has years of experience with Workers’ Compensation claims in South Carolina, so we understand the statutes and regulations of South Carolina Workers’ Compensation law. We can work with you to establish, organize and argue your claim, and make sure that you get all of the compensation you need and deserve.
Call Us Today!
If you are confused about Workers’ Compensation law in your area or if you are not sure what to do after you’ve been injured at work, call us today. We provide a free case evaluation to get you started.
Construction Accidents
Working construction can be dangerous, and employees who suffer an accident involving heavy equipment or materials often find themselves seriously injured and unable to work for a long period of time. Common accident types include falls, muscle strains from lifting or repetitive motions, injuries from contact with falling debris, equipment or supplies, exposure to dangerous or toxic substances, and in some cases fires, explosion, or exposed electric equipment. This could lead to fractured or broken bones, burns, electrocution, illness, or in more serious cases, traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, or even death. Construction workers know that they face dangers going to work every day, but if you have suffered an injury working construction, you should not have to worry about your medical bills, lost wages, and financial challenges alone. Workers’ compensation law stipulates that your employer is responsible for the costs of a work-related injury, but in some cases a third party can be held responsible as well. Construction accidents that might involve third party negligence include faulty or unsafe equipment made by a third party manufacturer, such as ladder or scaffolding collapse or defective tools. An experienced construction accident attorney can help make sure that you receive compensation from the responsible party, whether it is your employer or a third party. Call The Lokey Law Firm today to speak with a construction accident lawyer who has the experience and financial resources necessary to argue your case.
Industrial Accidents
Industrial workers in South Carolina face unique risks every day going to work. Common types of accidents at industrial work sites include falls from ladders or into holes, fires and explosions, exposure to dangerous or toxic chemicals, falling objects, electrocution, and overexertion from heavy lifting. If you were injured in an industrial accident, you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to assist with medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs of your injuries. Unfortunately, employers are not always eager to pay out these benefits, so you may need a workers’ compensation attorney on your team to help you get the compensation you deserve. If your injury is serious or long-lasting, the amount of the award you are owed may be large, which explains why employers are reluctant to pay them. Our South Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers have the experience and financial resources necessary to take on the employer before the Workers’ Compensation Commission and prove that your claim for benefits is valid. Call us today to ensure that you are treated fairly and that you get all the benefits you are owed under South Carolina law.
Permanent Partial Disability
If you suffered an injury that has led to a permanent disability, you will be dealing with the consequences for the rest of your life. Even after you have paid off the medical bills for initial treatment of the injury, and returned to work or found new employment, your life will be different in ways that are not always quantifiable. Workers’ Compensation covers all the initial medical expenses, but you should also be compensated for any permanent disability, even partial. These cases can be complex and difficult to argue because there is no direct way to quantify the financial burden of a permanent partial disability. A good Workers’ Comp and disability lawyer can help you establish that your impairment, loss of wages and loss of earning capacity entitle you to worker’s compensation benefits and secure a significant financial award. The Lokey Law Firm is experienced in South Carolina’s Worker’s Compensation policies and can help you get the benefits you need and deserve.
SC Vocational Rehabilitation
South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation is a state agency whose job is to support citizens with disabilities in their efforts to find employment. This can be a very helpful resource for people who are waiting on their disability claims to be heard or fulfilled, but they unfortunately often turn away anyone who has filed for disability support. A subdivision of SC Vocational Rehabilitation is also responsible for determining the viability of those disability claims upon first filing. Roughly two-thirds of all disability claims are initially rejected, and people are often discouraged when they don’t receive benefits after their initial application. The Lokey Law Firm is here to help you through the most challenging part of your process, and to help you understand the appeals process and that you reapply successfully. Call us today for a free case review, and have your questions answered by an experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act?
If you are a maritime worker in South Carolina, you may already know about the Jones Act, which provides compensation for maritime workers injured while aboard their employers’ ship, tug, barge or boat. But if you were injured on the job while you were not actually at sea, your claim for compensation must be filed under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This is a federal statute that can help longshore worker secure medical benefits or compensation after an injury sustained while working on a wharf, pier, dock, marine way or shipping terminal.
The Lokey Law Firm has successfully represented clients filing claims for maritime workers who have suffered injuries on the job. If you suffered an injury at work that falls under the jurisdiction of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, you should contact us right away. We can help you pursue a claim that will get you the benefits you need to recover and get your life back on track.
You May Be Entitled To Compensation For Your Injuries.
Maritime workers in South Carolina include dredge workers, boat captains, maintenance workers, harbor pilots, bridge maintenance and construction workers, and harbor workers — just to name a few — go to work every day knowing that they are facing unique work-related hazards. The government and courts have recognized the unique dangers that maritime workers face with the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
But if you are a maritime worker who was injured on the job, and your personal injury has left you facing exorbitant hospital and medical bills, and perhaps has left you unable to work, you may feel overwhelmed. It can be difficult to know exactly what to do after a maritime-career-related personal injury. We understand the details of the laws designed to protect you, some of which are outlined here, and we can answer your questions as we guide you through the process of filing a claim. Speaking with a lawyer right away after suffering an injury or illness during the course of your employment is a crucial first step toward securing the benefits and compensation you need.
Maritime law stipulates that if you were injured or became ill while you were on duty at your job, you are entitled to medical coverage, recovery and maintenance costs, and any wages you might have made should you have been able to work. Your employer is obliged to cover the costs of your room and board, including living expenses, during any time that you have to stay on land while recovering from your injuries, as well as for the cost of any medical treatment you receive in connection with your illness or injury. Unlike in some other types of personal injury cases, you do not have to establish that your employer was at fault, nor do you have to prove that your work caused the injury or illness. It is only necessary to show that the injury or illness occurred while you were working.
We Will Fight to Get You the Protection You Deserve.
Unfortunately, not all workers are aware of these rights, and some employers will try to dispute the payment or delay the payment of maintenance and cure to their workers. In this case, it can be confusing to know how to file a claim. We can help with that. One of our Workers’ Compensation attorneys can help you file a suit in either state or federal court that will require your employer to pay you maintenance and cure.
We have represented maritime and harbor workers before, and we can make sure that you know your rights and that you receive the benefits of them. For example, if you are injured or become ill while working at a dock or harbor, or in connection with any sort of maritime job that is not at sea, you have the right to select a physician to treat you for your injury, at your employer’s expense. You are entitled to medical care arising from these injuries for the rest of your life. In this and in other ways, the Longshore Act may provide you more benefits than a general state personal injury claim.
We Can Handle All Kinds of Claims
Some people choose to file a state claim in addition to a claim under the Longshore Act. If you are a maritime worker seeking compensation for a job-related illness or injury, it is important to have a personal injury attorney who can help you through any and all suits you are pursuing. Because the trial lawyers at The Lokey Law Firm have experience representing clients in all kinds of Workers’ Compensation and personal injury lawsuits, we can help you file claims via any court that may be relevant to your situation. Our knowledgeable staff will work hard to try our best to maximize any compensation you receive in connection with your maritime injury or illness.
If you have any questions about your claim under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Act, or if your employer has initially denied coverage that you believe you have a right to, call us today. We can evaluate your case and answer your questions, as we try to ensure your claim is successful. We know the difficulty maritime workers go through, and the importance of your job. You shouldn’t have to fight alone for the benefits that you are owed. We’ll help you take on the courts and your employer to get all the benefits you deserve, so that you can focus on healing and getting your life back on track.
The information presented on this website should neither be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Please contact our office for a free consultation on your particular legal situation. Verdict and settlement information presented on this website reflect gross numbers, before attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses are deducted. Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Cases will be handled by Warren Lokey, who practices at 775 St. Andrews Blvd, Charleston SC 29403.