A devastating amputation injury, like losing a finger, hand, arm, toe, foot, or leg at work, can change your life in an instant. You may be facing surgery, hospital stays, and a lifetime of ongoing medical care. The road ahead may seem overwhelming, but there is hope. Depending on the circumstances, you might qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Additionally, if someone other than your employer contributed to the injury, you may also have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Since 1968, Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers has helped thousands of South Carolina workers recover millions of dollars after serious injuries, including workplace amputations. We have a history of handling both workers’ compensation and third-party injury claims for victims of amputations caused by injuries at work. Like how we helped Rick, a longtime maintenance supervisor, who suffered a horrific degloving injury on the job. It happened when a machine activated during maintenance, amputating four of Rick’s fingers and tearing his rotator cuff.
Attorney Davis Rice fought to ensure Rick received advanced prosthetic care, psychological counseling, and full recognition of all injuries. Atty Rice secured a $310,000 settlement and lifetime medical benefits. Plus, his strategic advocacy gave Rick not only financial security but the ability to return to the job he loved, but with critical long-term protections in place.
If, like Rick, you experienced a work-related amputation injury, don’t lose hope. You have legal options. Joye Law Firm is ready to help you with a workers’ compensation claim, personal injury claim, or both, depending on the details of your accident. We’ll be there every step of the way, so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Common Causes of Work-Related Amputation Injuries in South Carolina
Work-related amputation injuries can happen in seconds, often because of faulty equipment, lack of safeguards, or poor training. Many of these incidents are preventable with proper occupational safety practices. Some of the most common sources of workplace injuries that lead to limb loss are:
- Power tools
- Factory machinery
- Conveyor belts
- Forklifts
- Presses
Amputations can occur when clothing gets caught in a machine, when workers are assigned dangerous tasks without enough training, or when proper lockout/tagout procedures aren’t followed. Sometimes, the cause is employer negligence, such as failing to maintain equipment or enforce safety policies. In other cases, it may be another worker or a third-party contractor who acted carelessly.
An amputation injury doesn’t just take a physical toll; it affects your ability to work, care for your family, and enjoy daily life. If your injury happened on the job, let our award-winning workers’ compensation attorneys at Joye Law Firm get you the benefits you’re owed.
What Workers’ Compensation Covers After an Amputation
If you lose a body part on the job, workers’ compensation benefits are meant to help you recover physically and financially. South Carolina’s workers’ comp system allows you to claim payment for all your medical expenses related to the injury. That includes:
- Hospital stays
- Medication
- Doctor visits
- Surgical procedures
- Future medical care
Most injured workers don’t know that in addition to covering your immediate care, your employer’s insurance must also cover long-term treatment needs. This can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, prosthetic devices, and any psychological counseling tied to emotional trauma. Most benefits continue until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is when your condition is not expected to get better with more treatment. However, in some cases, your attorney can secure years-long or even life-long medical benefits for your injury.
Workers’ comp also provides partial wage loss benefits. You may receive payments equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state’s limit. In cases where the injury leaves you with a permanent partial disability or permanent total disability, you may also qualify for additional compensation based on your disability rating.
These benefits are essential, but insurance companies often fail to explain them fully. Joye Law Firm ensures you get all the benefits available to you under South Carolina law, and we manage every part of your workers’ compensation claim from start to finish.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in South Carolina
After an amputation injury, filing your workers’ compensation claim quickly is critical. South Carolina law gives you 90 days to report your injury to your employer, but it’s better to do it immediately. This initiates the claim process and enables access to medical treatment.
Once reported, your employer must notify their insurance company. That insurer is responsible for medical costs, partial wages replacement, and any approved treatment. To qualify for benefits, you must see a doctor approved by your employer or their workers’ comp insurance provider. Failing to follow these steps can result in a delay in your benefits. You’ll also need to document the workplace accident, including:
- How it happened
- Who was there
- What equipment was involved
Keep track of every medical appointment, test result, and prescription. These records provide the medical evidence you’ll need to support your claim.
The process can be overwhelming, especially while you’re dealing with a serious injury. At Joye Law Firm, we handle all the paperwork and work directly with the insurance company. If your claim is denied, we can assist you in appealing the decision. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is more than a formality. It’s the first step to securing your future.
