Informal Conferences in South Carolina Personal Injury Cases
If you file a workers’ compensation claim in South Carolina, you will be asked to meet with a representative of your employer’s insurance company in an informal setting. These conferences usually last about 15 minutes, and the representative will try to answer any questions you may have about your claim. This conference is mandatory. If you fail to appear without calling ahead to reschedule, you may lose your rights to benefits.
This conference will be held in the county in which you were injured. You will be contacted with a date, time, and address.
During this meeting, a claims representative will tell you what a workers’ comp claim does and does not cover. Your claim will cover your medical bills and you will be compensated for any permanent disability your injury might have caused. Workers’ comp does not cover pain and suffering or loss of companionship.
The adjuster will then discuss with you your doctor’s report about your injury. The representative will also ask you about the limitations your injury imposes on you, both at work and in your personal life. If you were scarred or disfigured because of your injury, you may be asked to show the affected body parts to the mediator.
At the end of the informal conference, the claims representative will make you an offer. You may agree to this offer, which is binding. If you choose to do this, you will be mailed a check after signing an agreement. However, we have to warn you that if you choose to do this, you will get significantly less money than if you choose to decline and then seek the representation of an experienced South Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.
In the end, it is not the insurance representative’s job to make sure you get the money you deserve. It’s the insurance representative’s job to save the insurance company money. However, an experienced South Carolina worker’s compensation attorney’s compensation depends on the size of the settlement he secures for you.
Call the dedicated South Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys at The Dennison Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.
