Getting hurt at work makes life inconvenient and stressful enough. And now you’re maybe overwhelmed with the process of handling the insurance company—or, as I see all too often, maybe you’re stunned that no one’s scheduled the specialist referral you need, wondering how you’re going to pay bills with no income, asking yourself if there’s a way to get income while you’re out of work, and worried there’s no one to truly protect you in this lonely wasteland of a situation.

You don’t have to walk through the desert alone. Professionals like me are here to help. In fact, you’re the reason I wrote a book on workers' comp cases to answer questions you’re asking—or should be asking—which you can download for FREE.

But I get it—going to an attorney is as fun as going to the dentist, even if you’ve got a bad toothache.

So, the first question is, when do you need an attorney?

What Type of Injury Justifies Contacting a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

If you have serious injuries or DON'T KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF YOUR INJURIES (which is often the case), you’ve got too much to lose by letting the insurance company have their way with you. The cases where injured employees can benefit from a lawyer the most include:

  • Injuries to the neck and back, which can develop into severe spinal problems requiring an operation
  • Injuries to joints, like knees and shoulders, which are often way worse than you think
  • Inpatient hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • A broken bone
  • Referrals to medical specialists like orthopedists, neurosurgeons, or neurologists
  • Paralysis
  • Brain injuries, which may not surface for days or weeks after the accident

If you don’t have a serious injury—like a hurt finger or a sprain that requires only an ER trip, a couple of doctor visits, and a little physical therapy—you can likely handle your own case.

If you are or just might be seriously hurt from a work accident in South Carolina, you can get advice from an experienced Spartanburg workers' comp attorney. Get your questions answered. Call us toll free at  888-230-1841 or fill out a Get Help Now form. You can even schedule a FREE, EASY strategy session

Here’s why it's a good idea to get solid legal help.

Why Do I Need a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

  1. You’re an injured amateur facing a mammoth insurance company loaded with professionals. They make money by cheating you. And they have lawyers who do nothing but help the insurance company beat deserving people like you out of benefits and compensation. You not knowing any better is the insurance company’s best friend.
  2. The insurance company won’t take you seriously, because inexperienced amateurs create no risk. MAJOR INSURANCE INDUSTRY SECRET: skilled workers’ comp attorneys create risk. Insurance companies hate risk because it exposes them to losing money. An experienced workers’ comp attorney creates risk by devising the best strategy to maximize your benefits, then compiling evidence to win that will be admissible in a hearing. Do you really know what benefits you’re eligible for? Do you really know what you’ve got to prove to win? Do you really know how to prove it? This stuff can be really complicated, even for attorneys, so the injured employee alone poses little threat to the insurance company. That’s why you need professional help.
  3. Attorneys can add pressure where it matters most. Two of the biggest complaints made by injured employees are delays in treatment and getting weekly checks. An attorney’s office can join your calls for timely treatment and income you need, creating pressure on the insurance company from two directions. The same holds true for delayed referrals to specialists. And the insurance company knows our call is backed with the threat of requesting a hearing to bring them before the commission if it doesn’t get fixed.
  4. Attorneys can help you with a second opinion. The first question is, when do you really need one? If you do, we can help you figure out the best way to approach it, hopefully at no cost to you.
  5. You don’t know how to handle the nurse case manager. The insurance company often assigns “nurse case managers” to attend medical appointments and keep up with your condition. It sounds like a sweet thing to do, and there are some good ones out there, but a bad one can wreck your case. We can help you put a stop to it, and advise you how to deal with them.
  6. You don’t know how to handle a vital witness in the case—your doctor. Medical evidence drives settlement strategy and creates your right to future medical treatment. Mishandling this evidence mishandles your case, potentially with lifelong implications. An experienced workers' compensation attorney is comfortable handling doctors as witnesses and using medical evidence.
  7. You don’t know how to do the most important thing—reach a successful final outcome. Workers’ comp settlement benefits can be extremely complicated, meaning you risk leaving a lot on the table. And it isn’t table scraps—it can be vital rights like future medical care and additional compensation for permanent injury. Even the simplest cases are settled based on factors most job injury victims just don’t grasp. Many are shocked to find they qualify for permanent and total disability even though they’re not profoundly handicapped. And if you injure two or more body parts, you might qualify for enhanced compensation, but expect a fight over it. If you’re seriously hurt and don’t know your settlement options, you could very well cheat yourself and your family out of benefits you really need.
  8. You don’t know how to handle settlement negotiations, and start them off strong. Insurance companies love to wear folks like you out with long delays and ridiculously low offers.
  9. You don’t know how to request a hearing to enforce your rights, much less handle it properly. At hearings, employees without lawyers stumble into the lion’s den. This is where you need professional help the most because you could derail your whole case.
  10. If your case involves an accident caused by someone who's not a co-worker, or a business that's not your employer, you don't know how to handle the "third party action." You risk LOSING your rights instead of potentially multiplying them. The typical example is a car accident, but "typical" doesn't mean "simple." If you handle this wrong, your rights are gone.  

Building a case is time-consuming and requires high-level strategic decisions. I’ve developed a system designed to streamline the process and maximize your settlement value. To find out more about it, call us toll free at  888-230-1841 or fill out a Get Help Now form

See for Yourself How an Experienced South Carolina Workers' Comp Attorney Can Help Win Your Case

Here's real-life result from real-life clients. Before reading them, I'll tell you what you already know: every case is unique, and different facts and law apply to each case, plus an outcome in a prior case doesn't guarantee the same outcome in a future case. That said, discover how we've helped clients over the years, some of them who hired us only reluctantly:

I’ll Make it Easy to Ask For Help From A Workers' Comp Lawyer

Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. Stop worrying whether your rights will be observed and if you’ll be cheated out of the compensation you should get. Give yourself the best shot at full benefits for your injuries by contacting me toll-free at 888-230-1841, or fill out a Get Help Now form. I offer a free, no-obligation strategy session where I don’t employ high-pressure tactics. You’ll get your questions answered, and hopefully on the road to peace of mind, which is priceless.

And here's what you should look for to find the best workers' comp attorney for you. Scout us out by reading unscripted reviews by real clients on a website I don’t own.

 

Rob Usry
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Rob is a Spartanburg personal injury lawyer. Rob also practices as a workers' compensation attorney.