Workers’ compensation provides injured Costco workers with the cost of medical treatment and lost wages after an injury has taken place while on the job. In virtually all states in the United States, state law demands that employers carry workers’ comp. insurance. Costco has tough requirements for eligibility to receive workers’ comp. One of the key demands is reporting your injury to management the day after it happened. You must also fill out an incident report with 24 hours of filing the report. You cannot get medical treatment except from a provider approved by Costco. Also you will not get WC if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident. If you have been injured while working at Costco and workers’ comp. has been denied you may be able to lodge an appeal. It is preferable to get a WC attorney to help you through this often difficult process. Costco – Company Overview The Costco Wholesale Corporation opened its first warehouse in Seattle 36 years ago. It is an American multinational which runs a chain of warehouse clubs that are only open to members. In 2015, Costco was rated as the 2n biggest retailer for prime and choice beef, organic foods, wine and rotisserie chicken. Its global headquarters can be found in Issaquah, Washington. It employs 245,000 workers in a variety of jobs like stacking shelves, opening packaging, cleaning and moving goods from one place to another. Statute of Limitations for a WC Appeal Claim at a Costco Most states have a statute of limitations for filing the initial WC claim, but if this is denied you are able to appeal the denial. There is a time frame for appealing a WC denial at Costco which depends on the state, but is typically no more than 30 days after the denial was received. If this time passes and you haven’t lodged an appeal you will have to bear the financial burden of the injury on your own. WC denials often occur because Costco’s insurer does not believe the accident and injury took place while you were on the job. Also, if you failed to notify the company within 24 hours of the accident, any WC claim will be turned down. Costco will not offer WC compensation if you refuse or fail any alcohol and drug screening after the accident took place. Why You Should Let an Attorney Handle Your WC Appeal Costco and its insurers do not make lodging a WC claim easy. If your claim has been denied, it is in your interest to ask a WC attorney to file an appeal on your behalf. S/he will make sure all the appropriate evidence is provided to help ensure a good outcome for your WC appeal. *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Costco, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources How an Attorney Can Help if Your Safeway WC Was Denied How an Attorney Can Help if Your WC Was Denied at the Dollar General
