There are as many ways to suffer a work-related injury as there are different types of employers and workplaces in South Carolina. Some traumatic head and back injuries occur at construction sites and in manufacturing plants where heavy equipment and machinery pose a constant hazard. Many workers sustain serious injuries in work-related motor vehicle accidents. Still other workers sustain serious work-related injuries simply by doing their jobs day after day, lifting heavy loads, straining, pulling or repeating the same motion until it causes an injury. Some severe workplace injuries result in partial paralysis or permanent disability.
Regardless of how the workplace injury occurred, you need the full workers’ compensation benefits to which you’re entitled. The dedicated workplace injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm will work to get you the benefits that you deserve after an injury on the job. Representing injured workers is a focus of our legal practice.
Since 1968, we have helped injured workers like you obtain the money that they are entitled to so they can regain control of their life. Joye Law Firm has offices in Charleston and Myrtle Beach. We have successfully represented clients all over the state, including North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Summerville, and Moncks Corner.
To discuss your workers’ compensation claim, call Joye at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
Common Types of Workplace Injuries
No two workplace accidents are exactly alike. But there are many common workplace injuries suffered by workers in South Carolina that we have seen repeatedly. The South Carolina industries with the highest incidence of work-related injuries and illnesses include local government and public safety, nursing and residential care facilities, truck transportation, construction and manufacturing. Common workplace injuries include:
- Spinal injuries— Back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many workers don’t realize that if they suffer a back injury gradually from repetitive work-related activity, that injury qualifies for workers’ compensation. Other spinal injuries are caused by trauma sustained in falls, crushing injuries or work-related car accidents or motor vehicle accidents.
- Herniated disks—Many jobs that involve lifting and heavy physical work cause compression of the spine and can cause workplace injuries such as herniated disks. Also known as a ruptured disk or slipped disk, a herniated disk may compress the long nerve roots called the cauda equina that extend from the lower portion of your spinal canal. Surgery may be needed to avoid permanent weakness or paralysis.
- Head injuries/brain injuries— If you are struck in the head by an object at a construction site or other workplace or fall and hit your head, your brain may be bruised and shaken, even though your skull isn’t fractured. The seriousness of a closed head injury may not be immediately apparent. But the injury is serious.
- Shoulder/knee injuries— Overexertion, repetitive motions, straining, twisting, moving heavy loads and falls may cause shoulder and knee workplace injuries.
- Wrist/hand injuries— Some traumatic hand injuries involve getting a hand or finger caught in a piece of machinery. Other wrist and hand injuries are caused by repetitive motion. Carpal tunnel syndrome, a common workplace injury, involves compression of a nerve that extends from the forearm to the fingers through a small tunnel surrounded by bone in the wrist.
- Eye injuries— Thousands of workers suffer eye injuries in the workplace causing loss of vision, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. An eye injury can blind a worker temporarily or leave you unable to return to work or require job retraining.
- Hearing loss— Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common workplace injuries. Exposure to high levels of noise or prolonged noise causes destruction of cells in the inner ear. Industries with high numbers of workers who incur hearing loss injuries include agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, utilities, and the military.
- Burn injuries/loss of skin – disfigurement—Burn injuries can be caused by an explosion, skin contact with overheated electrical equipment or clothing being ignited. Contact with power lines or wires can cause electrical burns, resulting in tissue damage and internal injuries, including organ damage. Work-related accidents that cause third degree burns may cause serious scarring, loss of skin and disfigurement.
Contact a Charleston Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
If you’ve suffered a work-related injury in a South Carolina workplace accident, you can trust the dedicated attorneys at Joye Law Firm to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to receive. We offer a free consultation to injured workers to review your accident and discuss your legal options.
Call Joye at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
