Workers' compensation is supposed to be simple. You get hurt doing your job, and your employer's insurance carrier pays for your treatment and part of your lost pay. In practice, carriers dispute claims, delay treatment, question whether the injury happened at work, and cut off checks before you are ready to go back. Many injured workers do not know what they are owed.
Pruitt & Pruitt represents injured workers on a contingency basis, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover benefits for you. We handle claims in Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Abbeville, Spartanburg and Greenwood counties, and throughout South Carolina.
Claims we handle
- Death claims for families of workers killed on the job
- Back and neck injuries
- Brain and head injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arm, leg, foot and hand injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional or mental injury claims
What workers' comp benefits cover
South Carolina workers' compensation can pay for three main things. First, medical bills for reasonable and necessary treatment of the work injury. Second, lost wages while you are unable to work. Temporary total disability is generally two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a state maximum that is set each year. Third, a permanent disability award if the injury leaves you with lasting impairment.
The amount of a permanent award depends on the body part involved, the medical ratings, and how the injury affects your ability to work. This is where carriers and injured workers often disagree, and where good medical evidence makes a difference.
Deadlines you should know
In general, you must report a work injury to your employer within 90 days, and you must file a claim with the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission within two years. Report it sooner if you can. A delay gives the carrier a reason to doubt the injury happened at work.
Repetitive injuries and occupational illnesses can be harder to pin to a single date. If your symptoms built up over time, talk with us about when the clock may have started.
When the carrier says no
A denial is not the final word. We can request a hearing before a commissioner, gather records and opinions from your doctors, and present your case. If the decision is wrong, we can appeal. Throughout the process, we explain each step so you know where your claim stands.
