Workplace accidents can be devastating. In the blink of an eye, an employee’s health, ability to earn wages, and their future can all change. A once healthy and able-bodied person may no longer be able to provide for themselves or their family, especially in the event of a catastrophic injury.
A worker who suffers a brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn injury, or who has lost their eyesight or even a limb, should not have to worry about how they will survive financially while they recover. Yet the sad truth is that these hard-working Americans, many of whom were injured through no fault of their own, have suffered steep reductions to their much-needed workers’ compensation benefits. Instead of receiving the maximum amount of benefits to which they are rightfully entitled, many are having to turn to welfare or Social Security to keep their families financially afloat.
To add insult to injury, some states, like Oklahoma and Texas, allow large companies to “opt out” of workers’ compensation. Instead, they can now write their own rules for how to care for injured workers. Often, these rules are not in the best interests of the worker, and do not provide anywhere near the coverage that is needed to recover. Tennessee and South Carolina are now considering similar legislation.
The U.S. Government Needs to Strengthen Workers’ Compensation Now!
Unfortunately, state workers’ compensation laws are no longer adequately supporting the needs of injured workers. Currently, an injured South Carolina worker receives 2/3rdof their average weekly wage but that can change. In light of this injustice, several lawmakers are petitioning to strengthen the workers’ compensation system to ensure that all appropriate benefits are paid to those who are eligible.
According to the Labor Department, “Every year injured workers and their families are bearing more and more of the cost of workplace injuries and illnesses… American workers and their families deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing a workplace injury won’t knock them out of the middle class.”
Read more about lawmakers’ push for reform by clicking here.
Need Help Obtaining Maximum Benefits for an On-the-Job Injury in South Carolina?
Those who have sustained disabling injuries in the service of the American people should not also have to suffer from emotionally and financially draining government shortfalls. Workers’ compensation is absolutely important to protecting our workers by making sure they have the resources they need to pay for their medical care, rehabilitation, and living expenses until they can return to work.
If you have suffered a serious and disabling injury on the job, we urge you to contact the South Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today. For more than 40 years, our trusted legal advocates have recovered millions of dollars for clients, and we may be able to help you, too. Let us help you pursue the compensation you deserve – call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers for your FREE consultation!