Understanding Your Summerville Workers’ Compensation Claim Value

Summerville’s economy has transformed dramatically over the past decade. The opening of the Volvo Cars manufacturing facility in nearby Berkeley County, the expansion of multiple distribution and logistics centers, and rapid residential and commercial development in communities like Nexton and Carnes Crossroads have made Summerville a regional employment hub. But with growth comes injury risk.

South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system provides a no-fault benefit structure designed to replace lost wages and cover medical expenses for work-related injuries. Unlike a personal injury lawsuit, you don’t need to prove your employer was negligent—you receive benefits regardless of fault. This predictable system ensures injured workers recover benefits quickly, but it also caps certain recoveries compared to negligence lawsuits.

The Foundation: Average Weekly Wage (AWW) Calculation

Your average weekly wage is the starting point for all workers’ compensation benefits. The SC Workers’ Compensation Commission calculates your AWW based on earnings during the 52 weeks before your injury. This figure becomes the baseline for computing temporary disabilities, permanent partial disabilities, and permanent total disability benefits.

Summerville’s wage profile varies dramatically by industry:

Volvo manufacturing and automotive supplier employees: Often earn $18–$28 per hour plus benefits, resulting in AWW of $800–$1,400
Distribution and warehouse workers: Typically earn $16–$24 per hour with some overtime, resulting in AWW of $700–$1,100
Construction workers at Nexton, Carnes Crossroads, and local developments: Skilled trades earn $22–$40+ per hour, resulting in AWW of $1,000–$1,800+
Retail and service workers: Generally earn $14–$18 per hour, resulting in AWW of $600–$900

Your specific AWW directly determines your benefit amounts. A manufacturing worker earning $1,200/week will receive higher TTD benefits than a retail worker earning $650/week.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits

If your Summerville workplace injury prevents you from working while recovering, you receive TTD benefits equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage. The current South Carolina maximum is $378 per week (2025-2026), but many Summerville workers, especially those in manufacturing, earn enough to exceed this cap.

TTD continues until you return to work, reach maximum medical improvement, or otherwise resolve your disability. Typical Summerville cases show TTD durations of:

Minor injuries (sprains, minor fractures): 2–8 weeks TTD
Moderate injuries (more serious fractures, mild back injuries): 8–16 weeks TTD
Serious injuries (major back injuries, significant orthopedic trauma): 16+ weeks TTD

A Summerville Volvo manufacturing worker earning $1,200/week who requires 12 weeks of recovery receives approximately $9,072 in TTD benefits (12 weeks × $756/week, capped at state maximum).

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits

Many Summerville workers can return to modified duty before full recovery. If you return to work earning reduced wages due to your injury, you receive TPD benefits covering the wage loss. TPD bridges the gap between your pre-injury earnings and your current reduced earning capacity.

For example, a warehouse worker earning $1,000/week pre-injury who returns to light-duty work earning $600/week receives TPD for the $400/week loss (up to two-thirds of AWW). If light-duty work is available for 8 weeks, TPD benefits total approximately $2,133.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Scheduled Benefits

Once you reach maximum medical improvement, any permanent loss of function is compensated through PPD benefits. South Carolina provides scheduled PPD payments for common workplace injuries involving loss of body part use. Current maximum rates (2025-2026):

Arm loss: $19,500
Hand loss: $16,575
Leg loss: $19,500
Foot loss: $16,575
Eye loss: $11,050
Finger loss: $1,100–$5,500 (depending on which finger)
Toe loss: $550–$2,200 (depending on which toe)

Warehouse workers and manufacturing employees in Summerville suffer frequent hand, finger, and foot injuries from equipment, machinery, and falling objects. Scheduled PPD provides compensation for these common workplace injuries regardless of your wage level.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Unscheduled Benefits

For injuries not on the scheduled list—back injuries, neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain—South Carolina uses an unscheduled PPD formula:

Unscheduled PPD = 2/3 Average Weekly Wage × Months of Impairment

Impairment periods depend on medical evidence and SC Workers’ Compensation Commission guidelines. A moderate back injury might warrant 240 months (20 years) of impairment; a severe one might warrant 360+ months (30 years).

For a Summerville manufacturing worker with AWW of $1,200 and a back injury deemed to have 240 months of impairment:

Unscheduled PPD = (2/3 × $1,200) × 240 = $800 × 240 = $192,000

This illustrates why accurate medical documentation of your injury’s permanence is critical. Conservative medical evaluations underestimate PPD; aggressive evaluations maximize it.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits

If your injury is so severe that you can never work again, you qualify for PTD—indefinite weekly benefits (two-thirds AWW, capped at $378/week for 2025-2026) plus all medical care for life. PTD also includes vocational rehabilitation to determine if retraining is possible.

PTD cases in Summerville typically involve catastrophic injuries such as:

Spinal cord damage from falls on construction sites at Nexton or Carnes Crossroads
Severe traumatic brain injury from workplace accidents
Multiple limb loss from manufacturing machinery
Permanent neurological damage

For a 35-year-old Summerville worker approved for PTD with a 50-year life expectancy, the present value of lifetime benefits can exceed $500,000.

Medical Treatment and Related Costs

All reasonable and necessary medical care for your work injury is covered by workers’ compensation with no copays, deductibles, or pre-authorization delays based on medical judgment:

Emergency care and hospitalization
Physician and specialist visits
Surgery and anesthesia
Physical therapy and occupational therapy
Pain management and injections
Prescription medications
Diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans)
Prosthetics and medical devices
Home healthcare and accessibility modifications

Medical benefits continue indefinitely if medically necessary—unlike commercial health insurance, workers’ compensation doesn’t cap benefits or impose visit limits.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

If you cannot return to your pre-injury job, vocational rehabilitation services help you retrain for work within your physical limitations. Benefits may include:

Vocational assessment and career counseling
Educational tuition and training costs
Temporary income replacement during retraining
Job placement assistance

Summerville’s expanding job market in manufacturing, distribution, and retail means retraining is often possible—sometimes with income equal to or exceeding pre-injury wages in a different field.

Third-Party Claims: Expanding Your Recovery

While you cannot sue your employer for workplace injury, you can often sue negligent third parties whose actions contributed to your injury. This significantly increases your total recovery beyond workers’ compensation.

Summerville workplace third-party liability scenarios include:

Manufacturing equipment defects: Equipment manufacturers liable for defective machinery at Volvo or supplier facilities
Warehouse accidents: Third-party equipment operators, property owners, or logistics contractors negligent in loading/unloading operations
Construction site accidents: General contractor safety violations, subcontractor negligence, equipment manufacturer defects at Nexton or Carnes Crossroads developments
Vehicle accidents: Third-party drivers striking delivery workers or construction workers on roadways
Toxic exposure: Supplier or contractor introducing hazardous substances

When a third party is at fault, you recover workers’ compensation benefits and a personal injury settlement/judgment. These often exceed workers’ compensation alone by $50,000–$200,000+.

Settlement vs. Hearing: Strategic Considerations

Your workers’ compensation case will likely be resolved either through a negotiated settlement or an SC Workers’ Compensation Commission hearing. Each path offers different advantages:

Settlements provide:

Faster resolution and payment
Certainty and finality
Lower legal costs and administrative burden
Lump-sum compensation for future medical and PPD

Hearings may provide:

Higher awards if evidence strongly supports you
Ongoing, indefinite medical coverage
Continued TTD or TPD if you remain unable to work
Appeal options if you disagree with the initial hearing decision

Our Summerville attorneys analyze your specific case to recommend the approach that maximizes your recovery.

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Calculating Summerville Workers’ Compensation Case Value: Recoverable Benefits

Weekly Wage Replacement Benefits

The most immediate and often largest component of your workers’ compensation value is wage replacement—TTD, TPD, or PTD benefits. These replace two-thirds of your pre-injury earnings (up to state maximum) while you cannot work.

Calculation:

Your average weekly wage is calculated from your pre-injury earnings
Multiply AWW by 2/3 (subject to $378/week maximum for TTD/TPD 2025-2026)
Multiply by number of weeks you’re disabled

Example: Summerville Distribution Warehouse Worker

Pre-injury wage: $1,100/week ($57,200 annually)
TTD calculation: $1,100 × 2/3 = $733/week
Duration of disability: 14 weeks (before return to modified duty)
Total TTD value: $733 × 14 = $10,262

Permanent Partial Disability (Scheduled Benefits)

Scheduled PPD provides fixed amounts for specific body part injuries, regardless of wage. Summerville’s manufacturing and warehouse workers frequently sustain these injuries:

Lost finger: $2,750–$5,500 depending on finger
Lost hand: $16,575
Lost arm: $19,500
Lost foot: $16,575
Lost leg: $19,500
Lost eye: $11,050
Disfigurement: up to $8,800

A warehouse worker who loses two fingers in equipment machinery receives at least $5,500 + $4,125 = $9,625 in scheduled PPD.

Permanent Partial Disability (Unscheduled Benefits)

Unscheduled PPD applies to injuries like back injury, neck injury, and other non-scheduled conditions common in Summerville’s manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Formula: 2/3 AWW × Months of Impairment

Example: Summerville Volvo Manufacturing Worker with Back Injury

AWW: $1,300/week = $5,616/month average
Back injury impairment: 240 months (conservative medical assessment)
Unscheduled PPD: ($5,616 × 2/3) × 240 = $3,744 × 240 = $898,560

Note: PPD calculations can vary based on medical testimony regarding permanent impairment ratings. Higher impairment ratings dramatically increase recovery.

Permanent Total Disability (Lifetime Benefits)

PTD provides indefinite weekly benefits ($378/week maximum for 2025-2026) plus all medical care for life. Present value depends on worker age and life expectancy.

Example: 40-year-old Summerville Worker with PTD

Weekly benefit: $378
Life expectancy: 42 years
Total weeks: 42 × 52 = 2,184 weeks
Base benefit present value: $378 × 2,184 = $825,192
Plus all medical care (estimated present value): $100,000–$200,000+
Total PTD value: $900,000–$1,000,000+

PTD cases represent the highest-value workers’ compensation claims.

Medical Treatment and Future Care

All reasonable and necessary medical treatment is covered indefinitely:

Current treatment: $20,000–$100,000+ depending on injury severity
Future surgery, therapy, pain management: $50,000–$200,000+ over worker’s lifetime
Medical devices, prosthetics: $5,000–$50,000+ depending on needs

Vocational Rehabilitation

If retraining is necessary:

Vocational assessment and counseling: $2,000–$5,000
Educational tuition and training: $5,000–$15,000
Temporary income during retraining: $5,000–$20,000

Third-Party Liability Recoveries

If negligent third parties contributed to your injury, personal injury settlements often significantly exceed workers’ compensation alone:

Equipment manufacturer defect: $50,000–$300,000+
Contractor/employer negligence (by third party): $30,000–$150,000+
Vehicle accident: $25,000–$250,000+ depending on vehicle operator’s insurance

Total Case Value Examples

Scenario 1: Warehouse Worker with Finger Loss

TTD (8 weeks): $5,872
Scheduled PPD (lost finger): $4,125
Medical treatment: $8,000
Total Workers’ Compensation: $17,997

Scenario 2: Manufacturing Worker with Back Injury

TTD (16 weeks): $12,000
Unscheduled PPD (300 months impairment): $240,000
Vocational rehabilitation: $8,000
Medical treatment (current + future): $40,000
Total Workers’ Compensation: $300,000

Scenario 3: Construction Worker with Catastrophic Injury (PTD)

TTD (8 weeks): $3,024
Medical treatment (acute): $50,000
PTD (lifetime benefits, age 32, 50-year expectancy): $983,000+
Medical care (lifetime): $150,000+
Total Workers’ Compensation: $1,186,000+

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Why Summerville Workers Choose Crantford Meehan

Summerville’s workforce is diverse, spanning manufacturing, distribution, construction, and retail. Each industry presents unique injury patterns and legal challenges. Murphy Crantford and Jerry Meehan have spent decades representing Summerville workers and understand the local employment landscape intimately.

Extensive Experience with Summerville Industries

Volvo Cars Manufacturing and Automotive Suppliers: Manufacturing injuries are complex, often involving repetitive trauma, catastrophic machinery accidents, or toxic exposure. We’ve successfully represented Volvo workers and employees of its supplier network. We understand automotive manufacturing safety standards, common injury patterns, and settlement values in this industry.

Distribution and Warehouse Operations: Summerville has become a logistics hub, with multiple distribution centers and warehouses. Back injuries, repetitive strain, equipment accidents, and falls are common. We know warehouse industry practices, safety standards, and typical injury valuations.

Construction at Nexton, Carnes Crossroads, and Summerville Development: Summerville’s rapid residential and commercial development creates ongoing construction injuries. We represent workers injured in falls, equipment accidents, and construction-related incidents. Our understanding of construction site safety and general contractor liability practices helps us maximize recovery.

Retail and Service Workers: Slip-and-fall, burn, and customer assault injuries affect retail and hospitality workers. We know how to value these cases and protect retail workers’ rights.

Proven Results in Summerville

Our track record demonstrates consistent success:

TTD awards extending beyond typical industry expectations
PPD settlements significantly exceeding insurer initial offers
Medical treatment approvals for necessary care initially denied by insurers
Third-party liability identified and recovered in cases where negligent parties contributed
PTD designations secured for workers with permanent, career-ending injuries

Comprehensive Case Strategy

We don’t simply process claims—we develop comprehensive strategies tailored to your injury:

Medical team coordination: We work with treating physicians and independent medical experts to document your injury’s severity, permanence, and impact on earning capacity.
Wage documentation: We meticulously establish your average weekly wage, ensuring every penny of compensation is calculated based on accurate earnings history.
Third-party investigation: We investigate whether negligent third parties—equipment manufacturers, contractors, or others—contributed to your injury, opening additional recovery sources.
Settlement vs. hearing analysis: We evaluate whether negotiating a settlement or pursuing a hearing before the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission better serves your interests.
Insurance company pressure resistance: Insurance companies may pressure you to accept inadequate offers quickly. We negotiate confidently and pursue hearings when necessary.

Protecting Summerville Workers’ Rights

Beyond compensation, we protect your legal rights throughout the process:

If your employer retaliates against you for filing a claim, we pursue retaliation claims
If the insurance company denies necessary medical treatment, we file for approval and challenge denials
If settlement offers are inadequate, we pursue full hearings
If you have questions about benefits, we provide clear guidance

No Upfront Cost—Contingency Fees

We represent injured workers on contingency—you pay nothing upfront. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, only if we succeed. This means our success depends on maximizing your recovery. Your interests and ours are perfectly aligned.

Action Steps After a Summerville Workplace Injury

Taking immediate, correct action after an injury dramatically improves your workers’ compensation outcome. Here’s exactly what to do:

Step 1: Prioritize Medical Care

Go to the emergency room or urgent care immediately after injury. Be specific about:

What happened and how you were injured
What body parts are injured
Any loss of consciousness, severe pain, or concerning symptoms
That this is a workplace injury

Inform all medical providers that the injury is work-related. Request documentation in your medical record showing this is an occupational injury. This creates the official medical foundation for your workers’ compensation claim.

Step 2: Report the Injury to Your Employer Immediately

Inform your employer or supervisor as soon as possible after injury. Request:

Their workers’ compensation insurance information and carrier name
The workers’ compensation claim form (WCC-12)
Confirmation that they carry workers’ compensation insurance

In South Carolina, you generally have 90 days to report, but report immediately. If your employer is uninsured or retaliates, contact us immediately—retaliation is illegal.

Step 3: Document Everything

Gather evidence immediately while details are fresh:

Photographs: Take pictures of the injury scene, equipment involved, and any visible injuries
Witnesses: Get names and contact information from coworkers who saw the injury
Accident details: Write a detailed description of exactly what happened
Medical records: Collect all medical bills, prescriptions, reports, and imaging
Work history: Gather recent pay stubs and tax returns to establish your AWW
Employment communications: Keep emails, texts, and notes from your employer

This documentation becomes critical evidence if your case goes to hearing.

Step 4: Follow Medical Treatment

Attend all medical appointments and follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. Failure to comply can give the insurance company grounds to deny benefits. However:

You can request a second opinion
You can refuse unsafe or unreasonable treatment
If treatment is denied by insurance, we can file for approval

Step 5: Avoid Common Mistakes

Don’t:

Accept the first settlement offer. Initial offers are almost always too low. Let us evaluate your case before accepting anything.
Sign documents without legal review. Insurance companies may require waivers or releases that harm your case. Have us review before signing.
Discuss your injury on social media. Insurance companies monitor social media. Even innocent posts about recovery can be misused.
File a claim without understanding benefits. Many workers don’t realize they can recover much more than initial offers suggest.
Work around your injury without telling anyone. If you return to modified duty, ensure your employer and doctor know your limitations.

Step 6: Contact Crantford Meehan for Free Consultation

Call us at (843) 376-4030 for a free, confidential case evaluation. In this call, we will:

Review your injury and circumstances
Explain South Carolina workers’ compensation law
Estimate your case value based on your AWW and injury type
Advise whether to negotiate or pursue hearing
Discuss third-party liability if applicable
Answer all your questions with no obligation

Many injured workers are surprised how much legal representation improves their recovery.

Step 7: Let Us Handle Everything

Once you hire us, we:

Handle all insurance company communication
Coordinate with your medical providers
File required paperwork with the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission
Negotiate on your behalf or prepare for hearing
Investigate third-party liability
Manage your entire case from start to finish

You focus on recovery. We fight for your maximum compensation.

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US

“Helped me through the hardest time in my life “

Crantford Meehan has helped me extremely through the hardest time in my life and has gotten me such an AMAZING recovery after my accident. I highly recommend them to any and everyone I know. Even after my own mother got into an auto accident, they have helped us both successfully move forward with our lives...

Harleigh Tenio
My ‘go to’ for legal help.

Attorney William Crantford has been great! He is my “go to” for legal help.

David Childress
Mr. Meehan was very professional.

Mr. Meehan was very professional. He made sure to address all of the questions and concerns that I had while working with him. I would absolutely recommend Crantford Meehan to anyone looking for an attorney who works hard to get you the best possible outcome.

Nikki M.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Summerville Workers’ Compensation

Q: I work for a company headquartered outside South Carolina but work in Summerville. Which state’s workers’ compensation law applies?

Generally, the workers’ compensation law of the state where the injury occurred applies. If you were injured while working in Summerville, South Carolina law governs your claim, regardless of where your company is headquartered. However, some multistate workers’ compensation policies create complex issues. Contact us to clarify which law applies to your specific situation.

Q: What if my Summerville workplace injury was partly my fault?

South Carolina workers’ compensation is “no-fault,” meaning you recover benefits regardless of who caused the accident—even if you were partly responsible. This is one of workers’ compensation’s advantages over personal injury lawsuits. Your fault does not reduce or eliminate benefits. However, if a third party was also at fault, comparative fault may reduce that third party’s liability. We’ll analyze your situation.

Q: How long does my case take to resolve?

Simple cases often resolve in 2–3 months through settlement negotiation. Complex cases involving serious injuries may require medical testimony, expert witnesses, and a formal hearing before the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission—potentially taking 6–12 months or longer. We recommend pursuing the course that maximizes your recovery, whether that’s quick settlement or thorough hearing preparation. We’ll advise you on the best timeline and process for your case.

Q: I was injured in a warehouse accident. Can I sue my employer or the warehouse company?

You generally cannot sue your employer for workplace injuries covered by workers’ compensation—this is the trade-off of the workers’ compensation system. However, if a third party (not your employer) was negligent, you can sue that party. Common scenarios: equipment manufacturer liability (defective machinery), contractor negligence (if a third-party contractor caused the accident), or property owner liability (if you were injured on a third party’s property). We investigate all potential third-party liability to maximize your total recovery.

Q: What happens if I disagree with the insurance company’s settlement offer?

You don’t have to accept any settlement offer. If you and the insurance company cannot agree, your case proceeds to a hearing before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. At hearing, evidence is presented to a commissioner who determines your benefits. You have the right to legal representation at hearing. Many cases that receive low settlement offers result in significantly higher awards at hearing. We advise whether settlement or hearing better serves your interests.

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