North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Injured Mechanics

Mechanics perform vital tasks for South Carolina residents and visitors. Yet mechanical work can be dangerous. Repetitive stress injuries and injuries from bending or twisting into awkward positions are common risks for mechanics. Defects in a lift, jack, or other equipment can cause injuries if the equipment fails in use. Burns, slip and fall accidents, and exposure to dangerous chemicals like gasoline vapor can also pose risks.

A catastrophic injury can cause permanent, life-changing disfigurement and disability. If you or a loved one was injured on the job as a North Charleston mechanic, reach out to an experienced attorney today. The team at the Steinberg Law Firm can help. 

Mechanic Work and Injury Statistics

In 2023, 112 people suffered fatal work-related injuries in South Carolina, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The most common causes of death included:

• Transportation incidents such as car accidents: 39%
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments, such as breathing dangerous gasoline vapors or other toxic chemicals: 21%
• Falls, slips, and trips, such as falling through a manhole, slipping on a coolant spill, or tripping on dropped tools: 16%
• Contact incidents, such as having a body part pinned in an engine or being crushed by a falling lift: 10%

These common causes covered all industries. These causes also produced many non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the automotive repair and mechanic field. In 2020, the BLS recorded 9,940 cases in which a mechanic’s injury was so bad the mechanic had to take time off work to recover. Mechanics who miss work often miss the wages they earn at work as well.  

Common Causes of Work-Related Injury to Mechanics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that in 2020, the most common causes of work-related injuries to mechanics included:

• Injury from parts or materials: 2,470 injuries
• Being struck by an object or equipment: 2,190 injuries
• Injuries resulting from motion or body position: 1,290 injuries
• Use of hand tools: 1,280 injuries
• Exposure to harmful substances or environments: 1,250 injuries
• Trapped or pinned by an object or equipment: 920 injuries
• Falling from one level to another (such as off a ladder or lift): 55 injuries. 

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists hundreds of catastrophic injuries suffered by automotive repair workers and mechanics. A few recent examples include:

In November 2024, a shop employee died when a truck fell from a lift, causing head and chest injuries.

In August 2024, two mechanics died and one suffered serious injuries when a tire assembly exploded outward due to a defect in one of the tires. 

In June 2024, a mechanic suffered a fatal skull fracture from a compressed air explosion. 

Other serious injuries can occur as well. Speak to an experienced lawyer if you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a mechanical work-related injury. 

Common Injuries Mechanics Suffer at Work

BLS statistics reveal that in 2020, auto mechanics suffered:

• 2,130 sprains, strains, and ligament, tendon, or muscle tears,
• 1,860 cases of pain and soreness bad enough to require time off work,
• 1.190 bruises and contusions so severe that they required time off work to recover,
• 1,100 significant cuts or lacerations, many of which resulted in scarring.

The parts of the body most commonly affected included mechanics’ hands (2,240 cases), back (1,120 cases), body systems like breathing or other internal organs (1,100 cases), knees (880 cases), and shoulders (850 cases). 

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Basics

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance. South Carolina employers purchase workers’ compensation insurance (or self-insure). When an employee is injured on the job, workers’ comp insurance covers certain costs, including medical bills, a portion of your lost wages, and some types of permanent disability.

If you’re injured, report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. You can tell anyone who supervises at your job, like your boss or manager. Ask your employer to give you the name of an approved doctor who can treat your injuries. Get medical attention as soon as you can.

Once you report your injury, your employer will contact their workers’ comp insurer to start a claim. If your employer or the insurer delays or denies your claim, talk to an experienced attorney. 

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

South Carolina law allows you to file a workers’ compensation claim without a lawyer. However, hiring an attorney is usually a smart idea. Your lawyer can: 

• Investigate your claim and fight for compensation.
• Handle paperwork, meet deadlines, and negotiate with insurance companies.
• Spot the tricks and tactics insurers use to avoid paying workers’ comp claims and protect your legal rights. 
• Figure out if you have an additional claim against someone else, like the maker of defective equipment, and seek compensation from them as well. 

After a serious injury or sudden death, healing and moving forward become your full-time job. Let your lawyer handle your workers’ comp claim, so you can focus on your daily needs. 

Contact an Experienced North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

Mechanics do essential work, and they also face injury risks on the job. If you or someone you love was hurt or killed while doing mechanic work, talk to an experienced attorney today. The team at the Steinberg Law Firm can help. We work on contingency, so there’s no fee unless we win your case. Call or contact us online today to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable North Charleston mechanic injury lawyer.