Ramie Shalabi | February 27, 2026 | Workers Compensation
This article was originally written in August 2020 and last updated in February 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Workers’ compensation in South Carolina provides no-fault benefits for employees injured on the job, even if the accident did not occur at the primary worksite.
- Covered employees may receive medical care, mileage reimbursement, wage replacement, permanent injury awards, and compensation for reduced earning capacity.
- In some cases, injured workers may also pursue a third-party claim against a negligent driver, manufacturer, or other responsible party in addition to workers’ compensation benefits.
The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act entitles employees to certain benefits when they are injured on the job.
You do not have to be at the actual worksite for your injury to be covered under workers’ compensation. Also, workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system, meaning no one has to be negligent for an injured worker to receive benefits in South Carolina.
If you are covered under workers’ compensation, here are some benefits you may be entitled to under the law:
- Payment of medical expenses
- Payment for mileage driven to and from medical appointments
- Payment for prescriptions
- Compensation for visible scars in certain circumstances
- Two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are unable to work
- The difference in pay if you are working fewer hours or receiving less pay as a result of your work restrictions
- Money award to pay you for a permanent injury
Examples of accidents that could be covered under workers’ compensation include the following:
- Lifting an object
- Slipping on or tripping over an object
- Car accident while working
- Chemical spills
- Repetitive trauma
- Twisting injury
While an employee cannot sue their employer for a work accident, there are times when the attorneys at Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, LLC, (DSB Law Firm) can pursue a second claim (a third-party claim) against a negligent third party.
Examples of Third-Party Workers’ Comp Claims
Common examples include when an employee is driving for work, and another vehicle hits that employee’s vehicle and causes the employee to get hurt. That employee can pursue a claim against his employer and also against the at-fault driver.
Another example is when a factory worker injures their hand due to a defective machine manufactured by another company (not by the employer). That employee can receive workers’ compensation benefits while still pursuing a claim against the manufacturer of the defective machine.
The Charleston and Columbia workers’ comp attorneys at Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, LLC, (DSB Law Firm) will help make sure you get every benefit and dollar you are entitled to under the law in South Carolina.
You cannot always rely on the insurance company to provide you with everything you deserve. Their job is to look out for themselves, not for you. We are here to help and fight for you. Call us for a free workers’ compensation consultation, or click the button below to schedule online.
Ramie Shalabi is an experienced personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney who represents injured people across the state of South Carolina.