Warehouse workers in Florence face countless workplace hazards every day, and sometimes workers get injured. If you suffered an injury while working in a warehouse in Florence or surrounding areas of South Carolina, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to seek benefits. In South Carolina, workers’ compensation claims protect workers’ rights by removing the need to prove that someone was at fault for the accident as they would in a personal injury claim.
If you’re an employee who suffered an injury at work in a warehouse, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover your medical expenses and replace a portion of your lost wages. If someone other than your employer or co-workers caused the accident, you might be entitled to bring a third-party personal injury claim. However, the workers’ compensation and third-party injury claims processes can be challenging, particularly if the insurer denies your claim or attempts to pay reduced benefits.
The experienced South Carolina warehouse accident lawyers at Jebaily Law Firm know how to seek the maximum benefits you’re owed from every source. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Reasons to Select Our Florence Warehouse Accident Lawyers
The Jebaily Law Firm has fought for the rights of injured workers in and around Florence, South Carolina, for over 50 years. Our team of knowledgeable Florence work injury attorneys has over 100 years of combined experience.
We value our relationships with our clients, so we’re available to talk to you in person, over the phone, by video chat, or by text and email at any time. Contact our law office to learn more about how we can assist your fight for compensation by:
- Evaluating your case to identify all your legal options
- Handling the paperwork and documentation required for your claim
- Gathering evidence that supports the facts of your claim and your injury
- Seeking the maximum workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to
- Pursuing any third-party claims that may be available
- Negotiating fair settlement offers with your employer’s insurance provider on your behalf
- Engaging expert witnesses who can corroborate your claim
- Representing you and your best interests at hearings, arbitration, and in court, if necessary
Common Types and Causes of Warehouse Injuries in Florence, SC
Some examples of the most common types of work-related injuries warehouse workers suffer include:
- Fall from height injuries – To make the most of limited space, warehouses stack pallets of products far above what a worker can reach. Because of this, workers often need to use ladders, which can lead to falls. Even a fall from a relatively low height can result in bone fractures and other devastating injuries.
- Slip, trip, and fall injuries – Not every fall has to be from a height. For example, falling after slipping on a wet spot on the floor or tripping over items left in warehouse aisles can result in injuries depending on how a worker lands. If a worker hits their head, an otherwise simple slip could result in head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Struck-by injuries – Forklift accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents in warehouses. If someone is operating a forklift without the proper training, they could hit and injure other workers. Other examples of struck-by hazards include being struck by trucks at the loading dock or by falling heavy objects stacked way above workers’ heads.
- Repetitive stress injuries – Performing the same tasks repeatedly can lead to repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injuries, and back injuries resulting from lifting objects. Rather than being one-time traumatic injuries, repetitive stress injuries slowly build up over time.
- Overexertion injuries – Overexertion injuries are often one-time injuries that result from pushing the body too hard. Employers may expect warehouse workers to lift a heavy object rather than using a forklift if they only need to move it a short distance. The exertion required to lift the object could damage the worker’s knees, back, arms, or bodily systems.
Pursuing Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Warehouse Injuries
After a workplace injury in a warehouse, injured employees could be entitled to several types of workers’ comp benefits:
- Medical bills – Under South Carolina law, workers’ compensation covers necessary medical treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, and medications required to treat the injured worker.
- Wage loss benefits – If workplace injuries prevent someone from working for more than seven days, they could be entitled to temporary total disability benefits. These benefits are paid weekly at a rate of two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage up to a cap. If the worker returns to work part-time or at a rate lower than their pre-injury wage, workers’ comp will pay two-thirds of the difference between the pre-injury wage and the current wage. Wage loss benefits can only be paid for up to 500 weeks except in cases of catastrophic injuries.
- Mileage reimbursement – If a worker must travel more than 15 miles for medical treatment, they can claim reimbursement for travel expenses.
- Death benefits – If the injured worker succumbs to their injuries, the deceased’s family may be entitled to weekly benefits for the remainder of the 500 weeks and up to $2,500 for funeral and burial expenses.
To obtain these benefits, injured workers must:
- Report the injury to their employer within 90 days of the accident or the date when they discovered that the repetitive trauma injury resulted from their employment.
- File their claim for compensation within two years of the accident or the date when they discovered the repetitive stress injury resulted from their employment.
- Seek medical treatment from a physician or other medical provider designated by their employer.
- Attend reasonable medical examinations requested by their employer or ordered by the workers’ compensation commission.
Potential Third-Party Lawsuits for Florence Warehouse Accidents
In some cases, injured warehouse workers may have a valid third-party personal injury claim, even though the injury happened at work. For example, if you were injured by someone driving a vehicle for another company or because someone who was not a co-worker dropped something that hit you, you may be able to file a claim against the vehicle driver, the person who dropped the item, or their employer for compensation.
A successful third-party personal injury claim could allow you to recover compensation beyond what is available from the workers’ compensation system. For example, you could be entitled to full replacement of all your lost income and compensation for your pain and suffering.
How Our Law Firm Helps People Hurt at Warehouses in Florence
If you were injured on the job as a warehouse worker in South Carolina, the Florence warehouse accident lawyers at Jebaily Law Firm want to help you. Our team is ready to investigate your claim, collect evidence, negotiate with the insurance provider, and fight for your legal right to maximum benefits and compensation for your injuries.
Contact our law office for a free consultation about your case to learn more about what we can do to seek the benefits you deserve.
