Workers' compensation benefits are made available to employees who are injured on the job, regardless of who is at fault in the accident. The purpose of these benefits in South Carolina and elsewhere is to compensate the worker for lost wages, medical expenses and other costs associated with the injury.

However, obtaining workers' compensation benefits is not always easy, and many claims need to be appealed before they are granted. The claims process can also be confusing to people who are unfamiliar with it, which is the reason for many appeals.

Recently, an appeal in a workers' compensation claim for extended benefits made national headlines after, for the first time, the court admitted pictures from Facebook into evidence.

According to reports, the worker suffered a hernia three years ago after a refrigerator fell on him at his place of employment, a furniture and appliance store. The man received workers' compensation benefits covering his medical expenses and disability payments, and when the benefits ran out, he applied for an extension.

A judge and the workers' compensation commission both denied the request for an extension of benefits after the insurance company and the man's employer submitted pictures taken from Facebook and MySpace of the man "drinking and partying," trying to show that the man was no longer injured.

The man took his case before the state court of appeals arguing that the photo evidence should not have been admitted in his case. However, the court of appeals ruled that the photos were acceptable evidence showing that he had recovered from his injury.

Source: MSNBC, "Facebook pics lead to worker's comp denial," Martha C. White, Feb. 3, 2012