If you have been hurt while working, you know how much a workplace injury can disrupt your life and your income. Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to help cover costs for injured workers. However, sometimes workers’ compensation insurance companies deny or underpay claims. If you find yourself in this situation, a Columbia workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue justice.

Workers’ compensation insurance should work for you, not against you. We at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices pride ourselves on advocating for our injured clients to get the benefits and compensation they need. The attorneys on our team bring over 60 years of combined experience to each client they take on. Our Columbia office is conveniently located at 5111 Trenholm Road for clients in the area.
Workplace injuries are very common in the United States. This is particularly true in industries such as construction and factory work. In 2024, which is the most recent year for which complete data is available, American workers reported more than 2.5 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
The legal definition of a workplace injury in South Carolina is given in Title 42, Chapter 1 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. According to this law, a workplace injury is one that happens during the course of work and arises directly from the work a person is doing. This does not include diseases, heart attacks, embolisms, or other medical events unless they can be proven with considerable evidence to be direct results of the victim’s work.
For example, if a person has a stressful job and develops chronic high blood pressure, that would not be considered a compensable condition. However, if someone developed mesothelioma after years of direct exposure to asbestos in the course of their work, that would likely be a compensable claim because there would be sufficient evidence that the workplace exposure directly caused the lung cancer.
Workers’ compensation benefits should cover all costs associated with medical care for a workplace injury. Workers can also receive benefits for lost wages if they have to miss work because of the injury or to obtain medical care related to the injury. The compensation for lost wages is less than the worker’s usual salary, but it can help considerably offset financial losses.
In most cases, workers who are collecting workers’ compensation for lost wages receive two-thirds of their weekly salary in benefits. The lost wage benefits also apply to workers who are placed on light-duty work as a result of their injuries. In these cases, the benefits amount to two-thirds of the difference between the light-duty work salary and the worker’s typical salary.
If an employee is rendered temporarily or permanently disabled due to a workplace injury, workers’ compensation should also provide disability benefits. These benefits are calculated based on the employee’s typical earnings and the severity of the disability.
If you are dealing with a workers’ compensation claim, it is advisable to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer to help you through the process. Even if you have not submitted an initial claim yet, an attorney can help you make sure that your documentation is in order and that your employer and the insurance company are following all of the rules they should.
Sometimes, workers’ compensation claims are wrongfully denied. In other cases, a claim may be accepted, but the approved treatment plan for the injury may be inadequate to achieve a full recovery, leaving a worker with suboptimal care and potential adverse long-term health outcomes.
If your claim is denied or underpaid, your lawyer can help you gather information, build a case, and appeal the decision. If your case ultimately ends up in court for litigation, your attorney can represent you and present arguments and documentation on your behalf.
The cost to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer can vary depending on the complexity of your case and individual attorneys’ hourly rates and fee structure. However, many lawyers who take on workers’ compensation cases do so on a contingency basis. They do not bill clients up-front for these services. Instead, they receive a percentage of any settlement they secure for the client.
If your workplace injury requires immediate medical care, you should seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting to see your employer’s recommended doctor. After you have received emergency care and you are stable, you should report the injury to your employer and let them know you received emergency care. For non-emergency claims, workers are generally required to wait to see the recommended doctor for an evaluation and a proposed treatment plan.
If you are injured at work, you must report your injury to your employer in a timely manner to remain eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The time limit to report an injury varies by state, but in Columbia, South Carolina, workers have 90 days to report their injuries. You must report your injury to a supervisor and see that the report is documented.
No, if a person files a workers’ compensation claim, they usually cannot legally file a personal injury claim against the company for the same incident. When a worker uses workers’ compensation insurance, they waive the right to pursue other legal action. There are exceptions to this rule in cases of egregious employer misconduct.
If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied or underpaid, you do not need to give up on receiving the benefits and compensation you deserve to get your life back on track. At Bridgman Gantt Law Offices, we are ready to stand up for you and pursue a satisfactory resolution. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your case.
★★★★★
“What an amazing and professional group of people!! Mr. Gantt was super informative and treated us with respect and kindness. He explained everything from start to finish. His team was always available and were also kind and professional. When it came time to go to court he called a few days before and went through the process step by step. Making us feel comfortable. The day of court he called again and asked if we had questions or concerns. Ensured us that everything was going to be okay and just relax and he would be there every step of the hearing. Once the hearing was done he called us again and explained what he felt the result was going to be, and he was right! Would 100% recommend him to anyone. Thank you Mr. Gantt!” – Polly Clark
★★★★★
“All I can say is that this firm took care of EVERYTHING! I never felt out of the loop and was quite happy with the results. Also, Mr. Gantt and the staff made it extremely easy to discuss matters, even those that are personal! Thanks!” – Ken Soltys
★★★★★
“Mr. Bridgman was professional and on point he kept me fully aware of the process and what was always going on a true blessing to me and others.” – Tameron Gaines
"*" indicates required fields
