Table of Contents
Construction is demanding, physical work performed in environments that change daily. Tools overhead, trenches underfoot, and live wires running through walls and ceilings can increase the risk of construction accident injuries. For workers across South Carolina, a single incident can mean weeks, months, or longer out of work, mounting medical bills, and real uncertainty about the future.
If you suffered a construction accident injury at your job, you need the assistance of our experienced South Carolina work injury lawyers. The Law Office of Sean M. Wilson will help you understand what benefits are available and how to protect your rights under the state's workers' compensation system. If a job site injury has left you unable to work, knowing what comes next and having a fierce advocate fighting for the benefits you deserve can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your claim.
What Hazards Are Most Likely to Cause Serious Construction Injuries?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA) has identified four hazard categories — commonly called the "Fatal Four" — that account for the majority of deaths and serious injuries on construction sites nationwide. Here are the four hazards and why they are so dangerous:
- Falls from heights. Falls from scaffolding, rooftops, and ladders are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. These incidents frequently result in spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones requiring long-term care.
- Struck-by incidents. Dropped tools, shifting crane loads, and loose materials can strike a worker with enough force to cause severe head trauma, internal injuries, or crush damage, often without warning.
- Caught-in/between accidents. These accidents occur when a worker becomes trapped in a collapsed trench, excavation site, or between moving machinery and another object. Trench collapses are especially dangerous, as workers may be fully buried before others can respond.
- Electrocution. Exposed wiring, overhead power lines, energized conductors, and poorly maintained power tools all pose serious electrical hazards on job sites. Electrical injuries range from severe burns to cardiac arrest.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Job Site Injury?
The steps you take in the hours and days after a construction accident can directly affect the strength of your workers' compensation claim. Here are the steps our skilled work injury lawyers recommend you take:
- Report the injury to your employer right away. South Carolina law gives workers 90 days from the date of an accident to report the injury to their employer, but reporting immediately is strongly recommended to avoid delays in medical treatment and benefits. Delays in reporting can give an insurance company grounds to dispute the claim.
- Seek authorized medical treatment. In South Carolina, the employer has the right to choose the treating doctor, and medical bills may not be covered if you seek treatment from an unauthorized provider. If emergency care is required, confirm that any follow-up appointments are also authorized before scheduling them.
- Document everything you can. Photograph the accident scene, the conditions that caused the injury, and any visible injuries. Write down the names of anyone who witnessed what happened. Thorough documentation strengthens a claim if questions arise later.
- File a workers' comp claim if your employer does not. Injured workers can file a Form 50 directly with the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission to protect their right to compensation, and must do so within two years of the accident. Not filing within that window can result in losing the right to benefits entirely.
- Retain an attorney. You should contact the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson immediately after your construction work injury. We can help you build a strong workers’ compensation claim if you contact us right away.
What Benefits Can a Worker Receive After a Construction Accident Injury?
South Carolina's workers' compensation system is a no-fault program, meaning benefits are available regardless of who caused the accident. Here are the benefits you should receive if you suffered a construction accident injury:
- Medical coverage. All reasonable and necessary treatment related to the work injury is covered, provided care is received from an authorized provider selected by the employer or its insurer.
- Wage replacement. You can receive two-thirds of your average weekly wages, up to the statewide maximum set each year.
- Disability benefits. If you cannot return to your previous duties, you may qualify for temporary or permanent disability benefits, depending on the extent of your injury.
- Vocational retraining. If you can’t return to construction work, retraining assistance may be available to help transition into other employment.
- Wrongful death benefits. If a loved one died due to their injuries, you may be entitled to workers’ comp death benefits.
Why Does Having an Experienced South Carolina Work Injury Lawyer Matter?
Workers' compensation claims for serious construction injuries are rarely straightforward. Insurance carriers may dispute the cause of an injury, delay approval of necessary treatment, or argue that a worker's condition is not work-related. At the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson, our dedicated work injury lawyers have effective strategies to fight the insurance company’s attempts to dispute or deny your workers’ compensation claim. We’ll collect the evidence you need to support your claim and work hard for the full benefits and the justice you deserve.