What Benefits Can I Receive Through Workers' Compensation?
You may be entitled to workers’ compensation (WC) benefits, even if your injury wasn’t your employer’s fault or if you get hurt on the job in Greenwood, SC. These benefits can cover your medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent injuries. However, the WC system isn’t always automatic or fair. That’s where our Greenwood, SC, workers’ compensation attorneys come in.
At Nicholson, Meredith & Anderson, we help injured workers like you understand what you’re entitled to and fight for what the law says you should receive. If you’ve yet to schedule your free case review with our lawyers, here’s what you should know about the workers’ comp benefits you can receive.
What Workers’ Compensation Covers in Greenwood, SC
SC law requires most employers with four or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. When you’re hurt on the job, this system is supposed to cover your recovery without needing to prove fault. You can receive several key types of benefits:
- Medical Treatment – You don’t have to pay for your work-related care, but your employer or their WC insurer may require that you choose a doctor they have pre-approved.
- Wage Replacement – If your injury keeps you out of work for more than seven days, you can receive temporary total disability benefits, about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a state-set maximum. In 2025, that cap is $1,134.43 per week.
- Permanent Impairment – You may be entitled to a lump sum or scheduled payments based on the severity and location of the impairment if your injury causes lasting damage.
- Death Benefits – If a worker is killed on the job, their dependents may receive two-thirds of their weekly wages for up to 500 weeks, plus burial expenses.
Likewise, it doesn’t matter if your injury was partially your fault. The workers’ comp system is no-fault, which means you can still get benefits even if you made a mistake that caused the injury. The only major exceptions involve misconduct, such as working while intoxicated or starting a fight. In most cases, however, being careless won’t automatically block your claim. That’s important because many workers blame themselves when something goes wrong and assume they aren’t entitled to help.
While this sounds simple on paper, delays, denials, and disputes usually complicate the process. That’s where legal representation matters.
Why the Workers’ Comp System Doesn’t Always Work as Promised and How an Attorney Can Help
Insurers, including those that offer workers’ comp insurance, make their money by minimizing payouts. Insurance adjusters usually pressure injured workers to return to work too soon, downplay serious medical conditions, or cut off benefits with little explanation. Likewise, while you have the right to request a hearing before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission, the burden falls on you to prove what happened, show how you’re still affected, and justify the compensation you need.
That process isn’t easy to manage alone, especially if you’re also dealing with pain, stress, and lost income. A seasoned Greenwood, SC, workers’ compensation lawyer can safeguard your rights, gather the medical evidence that supports your claim, and challenge lowball offers or improper denials. They will also fight back when the insurer sends you to a pre-approved doctor who isn’t giving you a fair evaluation.
Speak With Our Dedicated Greenwood, SC, Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
For any questions or more information about the workers’ compensation system, you can reach Nicholson, Meredith & Anderson online or at 864-229-7241 to arrange your free consultation with our Greenwood, SC, workers’ compensation attorneys.