Summerville Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Injured Warehouse Workers

Every year thousands of Americans are hurt on the job while working in warehouses. Warehouse work can be dangerous. Workers face the risk of different injuries from overexertion when stocking shelves to crash injuries from vehicles’ or falling objects. 

Being injured at work threatens a person’s livelihood and ability to provide for their families. After a warehouse worker is hurt, the injury’s effects can extend far beyond just physical pain. Lost income and earning potential, permanent disability, medical debt, bankruptcy, drug addiction and other difficult issues can result from a workplace accident. 

If you or a loved one was hurt or killed while working in a warehouse in Summerville, South Carolina, call the workers’ compensation attorneys at Steinberg Law Firm. You could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for the injuries.

Warehouse Dangers

Depending on the type of work done there, warehouse work provides many opportunities for injury. Some warehouse tasks with high injury rates include:

• Climbing ladders
• Operating forklifts, pallet jacks and other heavy machinery
• Picking products for shipment
• Unpacking incoming stock
• Inspecting goods
• Sorting orders
• Lifting heavy objects 
• Processing items on a conveyor belt 
• Using repetitive hand motions
• Working near or with automated machines and robots

There are dangerous conditions in warehouses at times too. Spills can cause slip and fall injuries. Boxes or other bulky items can fall onto workers from above. Workers can be crushed in machinery. Hazardous chemicals or other substances could cause a host of problems for workers who are accidentally exposed. Improper lifting techniques can cause back injuries. 

The type of work done in a warehouse and the materials and machinery used increase the risk or injury to workers. The injuries sustained while working in a warehouse can be serious and even fatal. 

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Basics

Every state requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. These protections allow workers who have been injured while at work to recover medical costs, lost wages and other expenses incurred as a result. 

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 long as the injury occurred on the job or within the scope of employment, it likely will be covered under South Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws.

One of the most important things to bear in mind after an injury at work is that even though workers’ compensation benefits are available to all injured workers, they are still subject to an insurance company’s claims process. These companies’ main goal is to pay out as little as possible, regardless of how much money your injury case might be worth. 

What to Do if You Are Hurt at Work

After an on-the-job injury, there are essential steps you can take to preserve your rights. First, always notify a supervisor immediately of your injury. The incident must be adequately documented. The insurance company will be looking at details like this when they investigate your claim. File a report as soon as you can so you recall as much as possible. 

Next, get medical attention. Even if you think your injury is minor or that you can get through it, it is still crucial to be evaluated by a doctor. If the injury is serious, immediate medical attention will be necessary. 

It is essential to be seen by a doctor even if you think the injury is minor; this is important should you decide to file a worker’s compensation claim. At times, after an accident, the true nature of injuries is not yet known. Sometimes pain and damage 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.

Follow company protocol and instructions related to the workers’ compensation process exactly. For example, your employer has the right to choose which physician you should see. If you see another provider without your employer’s consent, those expenses may not be covered.

Speak with 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 are paid for your injury by the insurance company and your employer. 

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

As with any insurance claim, you are likely not facing a simple process that ends with fair compensation. Insurance companies want to pay injured workers as little as they can get away with. This is how they maximize their profits. 

A workers’ compensation attorney understands the tactics used by insurance companies and employers to avoid paying and knows how to counter them. They are skilled negotiators. The insurance company will not have your best interests in mind, but your attorney will.

In addition, workers’ compensation laws are complicated. An attorney can help you follow the legal process exactly and make your claim to run smoothly. Depending on the details of the injury, you could also file a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation. A workers’ compensation claim does not need to be based on negligence, but that does not mean fault cannot be found. There still could have been negligence that contributed to the injury; for example, in an equipment malfunction situation, the machinery manufacturer could potentially be held liable. 

Contact a Summerville Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

If you have been hurt while working in a warehouse in Summerville, South Carolina, you have rights and deserve to be compensated fairly. Do not let 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 were injured or killed on the job. You can reach our Summerville office by calling 843-720-2800. As always, your initial consultation is free.