If you are currently employed in Lexington, South Carolina, it is important that you understand what rights you are afforded in the event of a workplace injury. Whether you work in the field of construction or you spend most of your time in an office, there is always a possibility that you could be injured on the job. For this reason, the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC thought that it was important to address the topic of workers' compensation. This type of insurance coverage must be provided to you by your employer, whether you are a part-time, full-time or borrowed worker, so you should not hesitate to take advantage of the benefits that it can provide. In order to ensure that you are able to claim compensation after an accident, however, you must act quickly to inform your employer and file the appropriate paperwork with the Workers' Compensation Commission.
So just how long do you have to take action? Well, in South Carolina, an injured employee only has 90 days from the date of the accident to inform their employer—either verbally or in writing. Failing to do so could mean that your claim will be denied, effectively forcing you to forfeit your right to compensation. Taking this first step is the easiest part of the process, however, so you should waste no time in doing so. Secondly, you will need to fill out and submit a Form 50—which is an "Employee's Notice of Claim"—with the Workers' Compensation Commission within two years. Although you will have more than enough time to do so, you should not wait until the deadline approaches to request necessary benefits. Your claim, should it be approved, will cover any medical treatment that you have undergone, as well as reimburse you for a portion of your lost earnings.
For this reason, it may be a good idea to initiate the process of filing your claim as soon as you are able. In order to ensure that this is done successfully, you should not hesitate to enlist the help of a Lexington workers' compensation attorney from the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC. We have been helping injured employees throughout the state to obtain the level of compensation that they deserve for a number of years, so you can rest assured that your case is in good hands when you enlist the help of our firm. Additionally, we are available to fight for your rights if your claim has been denied by your employer or the Workers' Compensation Commission. To learn more, simply give us a call today at (888) 301-6004 for a free initial consultation over the phone.