On August 18, the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus was the site of a massive pipe explosion that left one construction worker with serious injuries. According to a Bluffton Township Fire Captain, the victim was airlifted to a regional trauma center for immediate medical treatment. He was later released from Savannah’s Memorial University Medical Center and is now at home recovering. The Island Packet reports that the project was being overseen by JS Construction Services, which was working on a parking lot at the USCB campus.
The worker’s employer, Mike Majer, says his employee’s injuries were not life-threatening in nature. “He’ll be back whenever he feels up to it,” Majer told the Island Packet. “There’s no rush. We just want him to get back to 100 percent.” The South Carolina OSHA is presently assessing the workplace accident to determine whether investigations are necessary. The owner of JS Construction services, John Lopat, says that the accident is being handled by insurance, and had no further comments about the malfunctioning equipment and pipe explosion.
Workers compensation in South Carolina
According to Majer, faulty equipment was the likely cause of the blast. Majer told reporters that an inflatable pipe plug overpressurized before exploding. Just minutes after the incident, EMS responders and local firefighters were on the scene, joined by the chopper, which was called per standard protocol.
This recent accident highlights the type of dangers faced by construction crews in Beaufort and throughout South Carolina, where heavy machinery and faulty equipment can cause fatal injuries in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, the law protects injured employees through the Worker’s Compensation Act, which covers medical care and a portion of your lost wages in the wake of a workplace injury. Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for victims to get shortchanged in their workman’s comp benefits. All too often, disputes arise over treatment plans, choice of health care providers and the victim’s ability to return to work.
On top of this, insurance companies have skilled adjusters and legal counsel to ensure their payouts are minimal, leaving the injured vulnerable to thousands of dollars in lost compensation compounded by increasing financial hardships.
SC workers comp lawyer
In situations like these, victims need the advocacy and expert guidance of a South Carolina workers comp lawyer like Michael Jeffcoat. Mr. Jeffcoat makes it his mission to secure full compensation for his clients following an on-the-job accident. By handling all the paperwork and dealing with insurance reps, Mr. Jeffcoat allows his clients to focus on their recovery, rather than fighting for well-deserved benefits.
The Jeffcoat Firm handles claims arising from various workplace injuries, including:
- Toxic exposure
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Hearing or vision loss
- Concussions
- Muscular injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries such as tendonitis
- Broken bones, lacerations
- Construction injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
If you’ve been harmed on the job and want answers about worker’s comp in South Carolina, and whether or not litigation is warranted, please call our offices for a free case review. The Jeffcoat Firm will work together with you, managing every facet of your case, including related civil actions against third parties.
To learn more about filing a South Carolina construction accident lawsuit, please call (803) 200-2000.
