North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Injured Mechanics

Working as a mechanic or auto technician is often a dream-come-true for car enthusiasts. The job can be dangerous though. Mechanics face a risk of injury, disability or even death every day at work.

If you or a loved one were hurt or killed while working as a mechanic 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.

Common Mechanic Injuries

The injuries sustained while working as a mechanic can be serious and even fatal. Common injuries suffered by mechanics and technicians include:
• Broken bones
• Back and neck strain
• Spinal injuries
• Crush injuries
• Traumatic head injuries
• Electric shock
• Burns
• Cuts and lacerations
• Severed fingers or limbs
• Hearing loss
• Eye injuries
• Chemical exposure

Mechanics are prone to injuries from repetitive motions and holding positions that cause injury over time, such as bending under the hood of a vehicle. Another major danger to mechanics is lift or jack failure. When working under a vehicle that is suspended by a lift or a jack, they can easily be crushed should the vehicle unexpectedly fall on top of them.

Other dangers in the garage include burns from touching hot car parts or power tools, slip and fall accidents when oil, gas or other liquids make floors slick, trip and fall accidents when equipment is left out and hand and finger injuries from being caught inside a vehicle or machinery.

These injuries can be mild to severe, and in the most tragic cases, fatal. A catastrophic injury can lead to permanent and life changing disfigurement and disability.

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Basics

South Carolina requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees under many 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 like they would in a personal injury lawsuit. If the injury occurred while working as a mechanic 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 regardless of fault, 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 Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Workers’ compensation is designed to protect both employees and employers after an injury, it still is not simple. Disputes are common. 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. An attorney can recognize when an employer is behaving illegally to discourage a workers’ compensation claim.

Then there are the insurance companies, who are well known for being difficult to work with for a reason. 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 when a car falls from a lift, 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 exactly 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

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

• Notify a supervisor immediately of your injury. The incident must be documented properly. 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.
• 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, 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.
• 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 are paid any workers’ compensation benefits to which you might be entitled.

Contact a North Charleston Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

If you have been hurt while working as a mechanic 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 were injured or killed on the job. Our Charleston office can be reached by calling (843) 720-2800. As always, your initial consultation is free.