It depends. Many injured workers do not need the services of an attorney. If your injury is minor and you are not going to miss time from work, chances are you can probably handle the claim on your own. If you have any doubt, you can always consult with an attorney for free to determine if you need their services.
If you injury is more significant, it is very important that you at least consult with an attorney to become informed on the workers’ compensation process and your rights under the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. The adjuster works for the insurance company and the adjuster’s interest is in saving the insurance company the most money possible. If the insurance adjuster assigns a nurse case manager, your nurse case manager also works for the insurance company and not for you. Most experience workers’ compensation attorneys in South Carolina offer free consultations. Take advantage of this service and learn your rights.
It is always important to consult with an attorney if:
- You aren’t receiving the correct amount in your weekly checks
- Your employer retaliates against you or fires you for filing a claim
- Medical care for your injury is denied or delayed
- You earned a very high wage before the injury
- A third party’s negligence contributed to your injury (such as in a car accident; if you are injured on a delivery or by an employee of another company)
- You will be unable to return to work after your injury
- You have a permanent disability as a result of your injury
- Your claim is denied
Most South Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency fee. This means that the attorney takes a percentage of your settlement instead of being paid up front. This is typically to the injured workers’ advantage because most injured workers’ do not have the money to pay an attorney up front when they are injured and in need of an attorney. In our firm, our workers’ compensation clients never pay any fees or expenses up front. You never have to worry about money stopping you from having your legal rights protected.
In South Carolina, all lawyer’s fees and costs incurred must be approved by the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. That means that the Commission will review all fees to make sure that they are fair before the close of your case.
If you have questions about your workers’ compensation or any other questions about your legal rights, please contact Venus Poe today at 864-963-0310 or click here to fill out an online case evaluation form. We have offices in Greenville, South Carolina and Fountain Inn, South Carolina to better serve you. There is no obligation or charge for our initial consultation to see if we can help you with your workers’ compensation claim.