Restaurants are one of the most dangerous workplaces. From a wet floor in the prep area to knife cuts from cutting vegetables, workers at a busy restaurant such as Chick Fil A should understand their state’s workers’ compensation laws. The key to getting a workers’ comp claim approved is to act with a sense of urgency. Workers’ comp pays out even if a business like Chick Fil A is not considered legally liable for an injury. The first thing to do is to report your injury to the manager on duty. Waiting to report the injury can end up hurting your claim. Collect Evidence of the Incident To ensure worker safety and to protect business assets, restaurants like Chick Fil A install security cameras throughout the company’s hundreds of restaurants. If you receive a workplace-related injury at Chick Fil A, you should ask the manager on duty to provide you with a copy of the security footage of the area where the personal injury occurred. If the manager on duty refuses to comply with your request, take your request to the general manager. Moving up the hierarchy should eventually get you a copy of the security footage. You also want to document any witness accounts of the incident, preferably from reliable employees and/or managers that the company trusts. Visit with a Physician Whether you suffered a relatively mild cut or you broke your wrist trying to stop the momentum of a fall, you need to seek medical attention as quickly as possible after a workplace-related injury. Delaying a visit to a doctor’s office for just 24 hours can diminish the strength of your case. Some workers’ comp boards view a lack of urgency to mean the injury was not serious enough to cause you to miss time from work. Make sure to keep a copy of every document related to the visit to your physician. You need to present the official diagnostic report, as well as any paperwork that describes your treatment and rehabilitation regimens. Submit Medical Bills and Evidence of Lost Wages The heart of a workers’ compensation claim is to recover as much of the money that was lost because of an injury. You should submit a copy of every medical bill, including the receipt for the cost of using an ambulance and the physician’s consultation fee for emergency medical care. Receipts for prescriptions like antibiotics and pain killers should also represent the copies of medical bills sent to the state’s workers’ compensation board. You also should submit documentation that demonstrates the wages lost because the injury prevented you from working. Speak with a Human Resources Manager Before you file your workers’ comp claim, speak with a human resources manager to discuss your case. Collecting persuasive evidence is not just for the state workers’ compensation board. Chick Fil A encourages employees to use a hotline to discuss human resources issues. This means you have to call the corporate office to discuss your claim. If you are not satisfied with the conversation you have with an HR representative, then the time has arrived to file a workers’ comp claim. The clock is ticking on your workers’ compensation claim, as every state has imposed a statute of limitations on the filing of claims. Speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer today to get the ball rolling on your case. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Chick Fil A, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Denied Workers’ Compensation at Chick-fil-A? I Got Hurt Working at Chick-Fil-A. What Do I Do?
