North Charleston Construction Worker Injury Attorney

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Jobsite Injuries

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers. It generates tens of thousands of workers’ compensation claims every year. One small mistake or oversight on a construction site can cause a catastrophic injury or even death.

If you or a loved one were hurt or killed while working construction in North Charleston, South Carolina, call the workers’ compensation attorneys at Steinberg Law Firm. You could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your injury, and you deserve to be paid fairly.

Construction Site Dangers

The nature of a construction site makes workers there particularly prone to injury. There may be crews from several different subcontractors working on the site at the same time, and if one acts negligently, others can be hurt. Although sites are heavily regulated for safety, these rules are often ignored. Whenever corners are cut or jobs are rushed, the workers are at increased risk of injury.

According to data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) some of the top causes of construction site injuries include:

• Falls — Falls from scaffolding, ladders, rooftops or other heights are extremely common. Workers might fall through a hole in a floor or trip over equipment. Any fall can cause broken bones, traumatic head injuries, and even death.
• Trench collapse — When a trench is not properly fortified, it can collapse and trap workers inside. Suffocation is of special concern if the air supply is cut off by the collapse.
• Electric shock — Wiring, generators, and power tools are just a few of the electrical dangers that cause shocks and burns.
• Failure to wear protective gear — Hard hats, safety goggles, and ear protection are all required for a reason. When they are not worn, injuries occur.
• Heavy equipment accidents — Heavy equipment like excavators, forklifts, trucks, and cranes are construction site staples. These can hit and crush workers or otherwise wreck.
• Power tool accidents — Tools like nail guns and saws can easily cause injury when they malfunction or are used incorrectly.

South Carolina Construction Injury Statistics

Construction workers face a high risk of death and serious injury on the job. In 2023, the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration ranked the top four occupations with the highest number of fatal injuries:

• Construction laborers,
• Other laborers and material movers,
• Production workers,
• Roofers.

These workers face high risks of both fatal and non-fatal injuries on the job. 

Fatal Injuries

In 2023, 112 workers died on the job in South Carolina, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction remained the deadliest occupation, claiming 31 South Carolinian lives in 2023. 

Among construction workers, slips, trips, and falls caused 10 of the 31 recorded fatal injuries. South Carolina’s specialty trade contractors accounted for over half (17) of all construction sector fatal injuries in 2023.

Construction workers who handle transportation and material moving also face high risks of death or serious injury. These workers include truck drivers as well as backhoe, crane, and other heavy equipment operators. 

Non-Fatal Injuries

South Carolina’s private employers reported 30,100 non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses in 2023, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s injury rate was 1.9 injuries per 100 workers, lower than the US national rate of 2.4 injuries per 100 workers. 

Of these 30,100 injuries, 19,000 required a worker to take time off work, transfer to a less intensive job, or accept job restrictions while healing. 

“Trade, transportation, and utilities” were the industries with the highest non-fatal injury rates. South Carolina’s trade, transportation, and utilities sectors posted a rate of 2.8 injuries per 100 workers in 2023. Workers in the “financial activities” sector experienced the lowest injury rates, at 0.5 injuries per 100 workers. 

Trade, transportation, utilities, and manufacturing accounted for 51 percent of all non-fatal occupational injuries in South Carolina in 2023. Construction workers also posted higher-than-average rates of non-fatal work injuries. 

Common Construction Injuries

The injuries sustained while working in construction can be serious and even fatal. Common injuries suffered by construction workers include:

• Traumatic head injuries
• Broken bones
• Back and neck strain
• Spinal injuries
• Crush injuries
• Electrocution
• Burns
• Cuts and lacerations
• Severed fingers or limbs
• Hearing loss
• Eye injuries

These injuries can be mild to severe, and in the most tragic cases, fatal.

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Basics

Workplace injuries are devastating and threaten a person’s livelihood. In addition to the physical pain and disability, there are significant financial and emotional consequences. Lost income and earning potential, permanent disability, medical debt, bankruptcy, drug addiction, and other difficult issues have all been caused by just one workplace accident.

South Carolina requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees under most circumstances. These protections allow workers who have been injured while at work to recover medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses incurred as a result of their accident.

In exchange, injured workers cannot sue their employer for their injury. Workers’ compensation claims are not based on negligence, meaning the employer does not need to be at fault for the injury for you to be compensated, as they would in a personal injury lawsuit. If the injury occurred while working in construction or otherwise within the scope of employment, it likely will be covered under South Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws.

Even though workers’ compensation benefits are available to injured workers, the amount granted to the worker is still subject to an insurance company’s claims process. This can become a complicated and frustrating ordeal and might necessitate the assistance of an attorney to make sure an injured worker is compensated fairly.

Do I Need an Attorney for My North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Some employers will attempt to talk an injured worker out of filing a workers’ compensation claim or make them believe they are not entitled to this benefit when they are. Construction workers might be misclassified as independent contractors as a way around providing workers’ compensation coverage. An attorney can recognize when an employer is trying to discourage a workers’ compensation claim.

In addition to employers, the work comp insurance companies are known for being difficult to work with. Adjusters are trained to take any opportunity to reduce a payout and can be quite aggressive and underhanded. Insurance companies make the process frustrating on purpose, hoping that injured workers will give up and accept a lower settlement just to get it over with.

Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney levels the playing field. Attorneys understand the tactics used by insurance companies and employers to avoid paying, and they know how to counter them. Your attorney will fight for you and negotiate a fair workers’ compensation settlement.

Depending on the details of the injury, you could also file a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation. If the negligence of a third party contributed to the injury, for example, in an equipment malfunction situation, they could potentially be held liable as well. An attorney could determine what would be appropriate in your case.

An attorney will handle disputes and follow the required legal process to help your claim run smoothly. Knowing that the details of your case are being handled by a professional can help you focus your energy on healing, not on stressful legalities.

What To Do If You Are Hurt at Work in North Charleston, SC

There are steps to take after an injury on the job, and it is essential that they are followed to preserve your rights.

• Notify a supervisor immediately of your injury. The incident must be documented properly. The insurance company will look at details like this when it investigates your claim. File a report as soon as you can, so you can recall as much as possible.
• Get medical attention. If the injury is severe, immediate care will be necessary. It is still critical to be seen by a doctor even if you think your injury is minor or that you can get through it. Pain and damage can develop hours or even days after the incident occurred. At that point, more damage could have been done by going without treatment or working through the pain, and the insurance company could exploit the delay in care as evidence that the injury is less serious than it really is.
• Follow company protocol and instructions related to the workers’ compensation process. For example, workers’ compensation stipulates which physician you should see. If you see another provider without your employer’s consent, those expenses may not be covered.
• Contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Workers’ compensation laws are complicated, and the process of filing a claim can become tedious. An attorney will make sure all protocols are followed and that you get the treatment and compensation you are entitled to under the law. 

Contact a North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

If you have been hurt while working on a construction site in North Charleston, South Carolina, you have rights and deserve to be compensated fairly. Do not let unscrupulous employers and insurance companies play games with you or your livelihood. Call one of the workers’ compensation lawyers at Steinberg Law Firm if you or a loved one was injured or killed on the job. Our North Charleston office can be reached by calling (843) 720-2800. As always, your initial consultation is free.