Do you have questions about your legal rights after a construction accident in Edgefield County, SC? Injured construction workers may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and damages under South Carolina personal injury laws. An Edgefield County construction accident lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to recover fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
With over 71 years of combined experience, we have a proven track record of success that you can trust. We’ve already helped our clients recover tens of millions of dollars in compensation.
If you or a family member were injured, don’t let the at-fault parties get away with paying less than you deserve. Contact our law offices in Edgefield County, South Carolina, to schedule a free consultation today.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help After a Construction Accident in Edgefield County
As a construction worker, your safety is at risk every day. Even if you’re careful, accidents can and do happen. These accidents can have a far-reaching impact on your life. To protect yourself, it’s important to recover the maximum compensation available.
Getting the money you deserve after an accident can be challenging. Dealing with insurance companies isn’t easy. Your employer might even deny your right to workers’ comp. Our experienced Edgefield County personal injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group are here to protect your best interests.
When you call our trusted legal team for help, we’ll fight for you by:
- Identifying all parties who are responsible for your injuries
- Handling your workers’ compensation claim
- Assessing your case value
- Evaluating whether you have a valid personal injury claim
- Defending you if your workers’ comp claim is denied
- Handling all negotiations with the insurance companies on your behalf
When it comes to injury laws, our lawyers know the ropes. We’ve recovered some of the highest settlements and verdicts in the area. To get the answers you need, contact our Edgefield County personal injury attorneys for more information today.
What Is My Edgefield County Construction Accident Case Worth?
It’s common for clients to wonder how much their case is worth. Maybe you already have a settlement offer on the table–or maybe you’re just wondering whether your workers’ compensation payments are correct.
The value of your workers’ compensation benefits will depend on these factors:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Your average weekly wage prior to the accident
- The length of your recovery period
- Whether you’re completely unable to work or able to perform limited duties
- Whether your disability is permanent or temporary
If your disability prevents you from working at all, you’ll receive about ⅔ of your average weekly wages while recovering. However, South Carolina law limits your weekly workers’ compensation check to 963.37 in 2022.
You may be entitled to additional compensation if you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. Personal injury laws compensate accident victims for non-economic damages and their full economic losses. However, not every injured worker is eligible. You cannot sue your employer for damages under South Carolina workers’ compensation laws.
You may have a valid lawsuit against third parties, including:
- Property owners
- A driver in a car accident
- General contractors
- Suppliers or vendors
- Manufacturers of dangerous work equipment
In the personal injury context, our attorneys in Edgefield County will work with you to determine how the injury has impacted your emotional well-being and quality of life. We’ll also work to determine the full amount of your past and anticipated future financial costs.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims?
Workers’ compensation laws are designed to reduce your financial burden after an accident. Most employees in South Carolina are entitled to file a claim for workers’ comp benefits if they’re injured on the job.
Workers’ compensation benefits include:
- Reasonable and necessary medical costs
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Partial disability benefits if you can work but earn less than you did before the accident
- Death benefits in fatal work accident cases
Our Edgefield County workers’ compensation attorneys know the workers’ compensation claims process well. We also have decades of experience handling personal injury cases. With our help, you can rest assured that you have an experienced advocate fighting for every dollar you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Personal Injury Case?
In a personal injury case, victims are entitled to seek economic damages and non-economic damages.
- Past and future medical expenses not covered by workers’ comp
- 100% of your lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Loss of consortium
To recover additional damages in a third-party claim, you’ll have to prove that someone other than your employer was negligent or strictly liable for your injuries.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in South Carolina?
Shared fault is not an issue in workers’ compensation cases. You’re entitled to receive workers’ comp benefits even if you were entirely responsible for your own injuries.
Victims in personal injury cases can lose their right to seek full compensation if they’re partly responsible for their injuries. South Carolina has modified comparative negligence laws. If you’re less than 51% responsible, you can recover partial compensation. If you’re at least 51% liable, you lose the right to sue for damages.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Any injury sustained on a construction site has the potential to be devastating. Whether your injuries were mild or severe, our lawyers at Hawk Law Group are here to fight for the money you need and deserve.
Our Edgefield County construction accident attorneys often represent injured clients who have suffered:
- Eye injuries
- Hearing damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Internal injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Lung damage
- Paralysis
- Permanent and catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
A serious injury can cause ongoing pain and suffering. You can call our law firm for a free case review if you suspect your claim is being undervalued, your doctor wants you to return to work before you’re ready, or you just have questions about your legal options.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Edgefield County, South Carolina?
A construction site is often a dangerous place. Workers are injured or killed on a daily basis.
Because construction accidents are so common, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has conducted research on construction site accidents.
According to OSHA, the most dangerous types of construction accidents are:
- Falls
- Electrocutions
- Accidents where a worker is crushed by a falling object
- Accidents where the worker is caught between two objects
Often, these and other construction accidents are caused by:
- Lack of safety equipment, including fall protection
- Negligent hiring practices, including failure to properly train and supervise workers
- Communication failures
- Defective work tools or equipment
- Exposure to live electricity
- Toxic exposure
- Violating state or federal safety guidelines
While these accidents are the most deadly, they’re not the only way construction accidents happen.
Our lawyers often handle construction accident cases involving:
- Scaffolding accidents, including falls and collapses
- Falls from roofs or ladders
- Electrocution or electric shock
- Heavy machinery
- Trucking accidents and other motor vehicle accidents
- Building collapse
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Welding accidents
- Trenching accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace violence
- Premises liability and negligent security
The time following an accident can be critical. The sooner our lawyers can begin to investigate, the more likely it becomes that we’ll locate strong evidence to support your claim.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in South Carolina?
Negligence is the legal theory involved in most personal injury cases. While you don’t have to prove negligence or establish fault to claim workers’ comp, you probably will in a third-party claim.
To prove negligence, victims must prove the following four elements:
- A legal duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Most lawyers can list those four elements without much thought. However, actually proving negligence can be much more complex than it initially seems–especially if you’re injured. Our lawyers in Edgefield County will gather the evidence you need. We know the right questions to ask and the types of evidence insurers take seriously.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in South Carolina?
In a personal injury case, victims have three years to investigate and file a personal injury lawsuit.
In work accident cases, however, it’s important to act more quickly. You only have 90 days to report your accident to your employer. After 90 days pass, you could lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact an Edgefield County Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You don’t have to rely on a generic lawyer directory to find an experienced Edgefield County construction accident lawyer who can help you fight for the money you need. You can learn more about the benefits of creating an attorney-client relationship by contacting Hawk Law Group for a free consultation today.
