Types of Employees We Represent
At Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC, our attorneys represent injured workers from all different walks of life.
We help employees from a variety of industries and backgrounds, including:
- Teachers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Coal miners
- Farmworkers
- Airline workers
- Truck operators
- Factory workers
- Healthcare workers
- Warehouse workers
- Walmart employees
- Construction workers
- Clean energy workers
- Amazon, FedEx, and UPS employees
- Police officers, firefighters, and first responders
Regardless of your employment industry, you can trust our lawyers to give your case the time and personalized attention it deserves.
What Is Included in Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
If you were injured on the job, workers’ compensation can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. Workers’ compensation benefits also cover permanent disabilities and death benefits for surviving family members in the event of a work-related fatality.
Common Workplace Accidents in Florence
Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC represents injured workers after all types of workplace accidents, such as:
Work Vehicle Accidents
Delivery employees, truck operators, and other employed drivers can suffer serious injuries in accidents involving cars, trucks, and other work vehicles. Common causes include fatigue, distracted driving, inclement weather, and hazardous roads.
Forklift Accidents
Forklift accidents are common in warehouses and industrial settings. Common causes include inadequate training, neglected maintenance, or negligent operation, increasing the likelihood of collisions, tip-overs, and falling objects.
Heavy Equipment Accidents
Incidents involving cranes, bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and other heavy machinery can lead to serious injuries due to the size and power of the equipment. These accidents often occur on construction sites or manufacturing plants due to equipment malfunctions, operator errors, or inadequate safety protocols.
Ladder & Scaffolding Falls
Falls from heights are common in construction or renovation sites where workers perform tasks at elevated levels. Ladder and scaffolding collapses may occur due to faulty construction, improper assembly, overloading, unsecured platforms, or inadequate safety measures.
Slips, Trips, & Falls
Slip-and-fall injuries are common in offices, warehouses, and retail spaces. They frequently occur due to wet or slippery floors, uneven surfaces, cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, and other hazards, increasing the risk of serious injuries like concussions and fractures.
Common Work-Related Injuries Leading to Workers’ Compensation Claims
Our firm has a proven track record of results in a wide range of workers’ compensation cases.
Common workplace injury claims we handle include:
- Amputations: Limb loss frequently affects workers in the manufacturing, construction, and industrial industries. This injury commonly occurs due to machinery accidents, construction site incidents, and industrial accidents.
- Arthritis: This injury causes inflammation of the joints due to repetitive motion or prolonged physical strain. Arthritis is especially prevalent among office workers, construction workers, and individuals in physically demanding jobs.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: This injury compresses the median nerve in the wrists of affected workers, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness. This syndrome commonly affects employees who perform repetitive hand and wrist movements, such as computer programmers, assembly line workers, and data entry operators.
- Catastrophic injuries: These refer to severe and life-altering injuries that significantly impact a worker’s quality of life, such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries resulting from accidents in construction, transportation, or industrial work.
- Chronic pain syndrome: This refers to persistent and debilitating pain that limits an employee’s long-term ability to perform physical tasks, focus on job-related duties, and maintain consistent attendance. Common causes include repetitive motions, heavy lifting, or prolonged sitting.
- Eye injuries: Damage to the eye can occur due to chemical exposure, flying debris, and other accidents in the workplace. Eye injuries are especially common in manufacturing, construction, and laboratories.
- Fractures: Broken bones and fractures often result from falls, struck-by injuries, and other workplace accidents in various industries, including construction sites, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities.
- Occupational illnesses: These refer to conditions that develop gradually over time due to exposure to hazardous substances or work-related environments, such as asbestos-related diseases in construction or occupational lung diseases in mining.
- Occupational hearing loss: Prolonged exposure to loud noises can result in gradual hearing impairment, especially in sectors like manufacturing, construction, and aviation.
- Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs): Tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other RSIs are caused by repetitive movements or overuse of a specific body part. These injuries often affect workers in office settings, manufacturing, and assembly line work.
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs): Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis. SCIs are especially common in workplace accidents involving falls, construction incidents, and work vehicle collisions.
- Tendonitis: This injury refers to inflammation and irritation of tendons caused by repetitive motions or overexertion. Tendonitis frequently impacts employees in physically demanding occupations, such as factory work and construction.
- Tennis elbow: This overuse injury causes pain and inflammation in the tendons of the elbow. Tennis elbow is common among workers who engage in repetitive activities, such as construction work or manual labor.
- Thoracic outlet syndrome: This compresses the nerves and blood vessels in the upper chest region, leading to pain and numbness in the arms and hands. This syndrome frequently occurs in occupations involving repetitive arm movements or poor posture.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Severe head injuries can result from falls, struck-by injuries, and vehicle accidents, especially in construction and transportation.
- Whiplash: This neck injury is caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration in work vehicle accidents and other incidents involving sudden impact or jolts.
Are Employers Required to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance in SC?
Under South Carolina law, employers with four or more full-time employees are generally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, certain exceptions may apply to agricultural workers, railroad and railway express workers, and federal employees. Consulting a knowledgeable lawyer is essential to determine your potential eligibility and make informed decisions for your financial health and well-being.
Who Is Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, workers’ compensation is available to most employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
To be eligible for benefits, employees must meet the following criteria:
- Employment status: You must be an official employee to recover benefits. Independent contractors and volunteers are generally ineligible for workers’ compensation.
- Work-related injury or illness: To qualify for workers' compensation, your injury or illness must have occurred as a result of your employment or in the course of your job duties.
- Employer coverage: Your employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance. In South Carolina, this applies to most employers with four or more employees.
- Timely reporting: Under state workers’ compensation laws, you must report your injury or illness to your employer within 90 days to be eligible for benefits.
Keep in mind that specific eligibility requirements may vary depending on the specifics of your case, making it crucial to seek legal counsel as soon as possible after a workplace accident.
I Contracted COVID-19 While Working at the McLeod Regional Medical Center. Am I Eligible for Workers’ Comp Benefits?
Yes, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you contracted COVID-19 as a healthcare employee. If you developed the coronavirus as an essential worker at the McLeod Regional Medical Center, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have a deep understanding of the evolving laws and complexities surrounding COVID-19 cases to pursue the maximum benefits available to you.
I Developed Tendonitis at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Florence County. Can I Recover Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Tendonitis is a repetitive stress injury resulting from physically demanding labor, making it a common injury among Amazon workers. If you developed tendonitis at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Florence County, you may be eligible to recover benefits in a workers’ compensation claim. Fortunately, our firm has extensive experience representing employees at Amazon, FedEx, and UPS facilities, making us well-equipped to pursue the best possible outcome in your case.
Why Choose Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC?
Why trust Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC to represent your best interests after a workplace accident?
When you partner with our experienced firm, you’ll benefit from:
- Legal experience: Put decades of experience on your side by partnering with our workers’ compensation attorneys.
- Winning results: With millions of dollars recovered for injured South Carolinians, our winning track record of results speaks for itself.
- Personalized representation: When you choose Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC, you can expect personalized and reliable representation tailored to your unique legal circumstances.
- Upfront communication: Our firm goes above and beyond to keep you informed and up-to-date throughout your case, empowering you to make informed decisions for your health and well-being.
- Complimentary case evaluations: We offer contingency fees and free consultations for your convenience and clarity.
- Trial readiness: While many claims are settled outside of court, our advocates never hesitate to prepare cases for trial if necessary to achieve a fair settlement.
If you were injured on the job in Florence, you deserve financial relief to support you during your recovery. Contact us online to discuss your case with our skilled lawyers.
