Forestry workers face a myriad of dangers in completing their daily job tasks. From working with heavy equipment (such as knuckle boom loaders, harvesters, excavators, and skidders) to handheld and smaller tools (such as log lifting pick poles), dangers lurk everywhere.
Working outside, in the elements, workers are at risk of slipping and falling; exposure to heat, cold, and the varieties of vegetation (including poison oak and ivy, for example) bring with them further dangers, such as hypothermia, heat stroke, and dehydration. Like some other jobs, forestry workers are sometimes required to carry heavy loads, which can cause damage to your back, neck, and spine. In short, forestry workers face a tremendous number of dangers just by doing the functions of their jobs, and those injuries can bring long-lasting repercussions, including temporary or even permanent disability.
Your life can be forever changed in the blink of an eye, with no warning. That is why it is so important not to just to be aware of the dangers, but also of your rights before and after you experience an accident and suffer an injury of any kind.
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The Statistics of Injuries Involving SC Forestry Workers
Did you know that the fatality rate for logging workers is more than 21 times higher than all other workers in the United States? (The average fatality rate as of 2010 was 3.4 deaths per 100,000 workers while the rate for loggers was 73.7 per 100,000.) This fact makes logging one of the most dangerous career choices you can make in the U.S. today; it is also the primary reason for the desperate need to prioritize research and implement intervention programs for the industry.
Safety Training and Your Rights as an SC Forestry Worker
As a forestry worker, you may not get much in the way of formal training, and whether you know it or not, you are entitled to a safe workplace; further, if you ever do become injured as a result of doing your job, you have the right to medical care for your work-related injuries. Still, because employers and insurance companies want to save their businesses as much money as possible, you may be facing a lot of opposition when you try to seek the assistance you need and deserve. For this reason, many individuals in situations like yours choose to hire experienced attorneys to seek compensation on their behalf. If this option is of interest to you, or if you would like to ask questions, please give us a call at (803) 599-3080 to schedule your free consultation. During your appointment, you will be able to discuss the details of your case with an attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation cases and get individualized information depending on the specifics of your situation.
Workers’ Compensation Law in South Carolina
As with many other work-related accidents in which an employee has suffered any injuries, as a forestry worker, you have the right to file for and receive compensation for your injuries; this kind of compensation is commonly referred to as workers’ compensation. Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, you may be looking at weeks, months, or even years of a doctor, therapy, and rehabilitation appointments and related expenses, including copays, prescriptions, and assistive devices. You may require a variety of expensive medications or even prosthetics if you have lost a limb.
A Workers’ Compensation Attorney May Help You Get What You Deserve
The kinds of injuries that frequently happen to those who work in forestry-related jobs can greatly impact not just the here and now, but your overall physical, mental, and financial well-being into the future.
Consider the idea that after a serious injury, you may not be able to work for an extended period of time, if you are ever able to return to your same job. What kinds of consequences could that mean for you and your family? If you are the primary breadwinner, even if it is only temporary, your job loss could spell financial ruin; that’s one reason it is so important for you to get your case started – there is a timeline for filing a case seeking compensation, and the longer you wait, you may be further at risk of not getting awarded any compensation. You deserve to be adequately compensated for these kinds of injuries, and an experienced attorney can help you get the most financial compensation. Help protect yourself and your family. Call us today.
Get Your Free Case Evaluation
No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover the maximum possible compensation allowed under the law for our clients.
At this critical juncture in your life, you should be unencumbered and free to focus on the things that will make a difference – things like healing (mentally as well as physically), spending time with family and friends, and recuperating from all that you have gone through. The attorneys with the Elrod Pope Law Firm are here to help you as much as we can – we will walk you through the complex legal processes, preparing and filing paperwork according to your needs and desires.
Call us at (803) 599-3080 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable attorney who has years of experience managing workers’ compensation and personal injury cases like yours.
