You work long shifts at your job. You do your best to work in a way that is safe for you and efficient for your employer. What would you do if you get hurt on the job? Could you navigate the stormy waters of financial instability? Thankfully, workers’ compensation laws are in place to help workers just like you who are hurt or made sick because of their job. Each state has a law in place to make sure that most employers carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy. This coverage is provided to workers at no cost. If you are sick or hurt on the job, filing a workers’ comp claim can provide money for your medical care, prescriptions, and even pay part of your wages while you get better. If you are an employee of Coca-Cola, you are covered by workers’ compensation insurance while you are on the job. Workers’ compensation is a special insurance that protects workers and their employers in the event of a workplace accident or occupational illness. Workers’ compensation insurance coverage is required by most employers across the country, but states do set their own laws. When you are involved in a workplace accident, you need to do a few things to protect your rights and preserve evidence. If possible, get photos of the accident scene. If your injuries are serious, call for an ambulance. If they aren’t life-threatening, then you can go to the doctor or urgent care by private vehicle. It is important that you establish medical care right away. If you delay treatment, your employer and their insurer can allege that the injury didn’t occur while you were on the job. Most workers’ compensation insurers have a network of healthcare providers. Failure to use an in-network provider could cause you to pay out of pocket for your medical care. Your employer should have a list of in-network providers for workers’ comp claims posted in a visible location. Usually, it is in the breakroom or near a time clock. If you don’t see the list, ask a supervisor for a copy. You should jot down the details of your accident while it is fresh in your memory. You will need to give a detailed statement to your employer for the accident report, so be sure to take note of everything. Ask any witnesses to provide detailed statements regarding what happened and what they saw. You will need to be very specific when you give your account of what happened. As an example, you were loading your truck to make daily deliveries when you slipped on the loading ramp. You fell backward onto the concrete and the two-wheel dolly, which was filled with cases of 12-ounce cans of soda fell back on top of you. You immediately felt pain in your back and down your right leg. As you tried to move, you noticed pain in your side along the ribcage and then across your chest. You should always report the incident to your employer as quickly as possible but be aware that there are time limits for doing this. State laws indicate how long you have to notify your employer of a workplace accident. Business Profile: Coca-Cola Co. Coca-Cola Co., is one of the most well-known soda makers in the world. Their main headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia, but they have warehouses and processing plants all over the world. Coca-Cola provides a lot of different employment opportunities in their plants. There are production workers. They hire warehouse workers to load the trucks. There are delivery drivers who drive Coke products and deliver them to Coke’s numerous customers. Of course, there is also a large administrative team that helps run the business and manages the needs of the workers who handle the products. Risks of Working at Coca-Cola Working at Coca-Cola Co., has risks. Your risks will depend on your job title. Here are a few risks that Coca-Cola workers face: If you work in the Coke warehouse, you or your coworkers may not have received appropriate forklift training. Improper use of forklifts can injure you. If a forklift were to fail and drop its load on top of you, you could suffer serious internal injuries. Improperly stored compressed gas can explode and cause burns or other serious injuries. If these containers leak, you could suffer breathing problems depending on the type of compressed gas that is leaking. Coca-Cola delivery drivers are at risk for injuries caused by a car accident. Yes, car accidents that involve deliver drivers are eligible for workers’ comp. Office workers are also at risk for problems. Wet floors can cause a slip and fall. You could hit your head or severely hurt your back. Coca-Cola office workers who stick to the same tasks each and every day for a long period of time, such as typing, are at risk of developing repetitive stress injury. Examples of How Coca-Cola Employees Can Be Injured You were working in the bottling plant when your hand became trapped in the conveyor belt, crushing two fingers and causing a deep cut. Because of the blood loss and the visible bones, your coworkers call 911 and company medics provide care until help arrives. Your fingers require surgery, and you will need long-term rehab or physical therapy. You are going to be unable to work for at least 3 months and your medical bills are adding up fast. Workers’ comp will cover the cost of your medical care and will pay you about two-thirds of your regular salary while you are unable to work. You are a Coca-Cola delivery driver. While making your rounds, you were involved in a serious crash that left you with a serious back and neck injury and a deep cut on your head. You may need to undergo back surgery, and you may not be able to return to your job as a truck driver again. You will not be able to perform any work at all for several months. A workers’ compensation claim can help you during this time. Your medical bills could quickly add up to more than $100,000. You could lose thousands of dollars in income that your family depends on. Gathering Evidence For Your Coca-Cola Workers’ Comp Claim When you pursue a workers’ compensation claim, you will need evidence to support your claim and to show that your injuries were the direct result of a workplace accident. You will need to make sure you file an accident report. Photos of the accident scene can also be very beneficial. If your accident was caught on surveillance video, that video can be used as supporting evidence. Any corroborating witness statements can be helpful as well, as that will help prove that you were involved in a workplace accident and that you suffered injuries in that accident. You should maintain copies of your medical bills and medical records. Keep copies of any medical excuses and document any missed work and lost wages. Also, keep track of your mileage to and from doctor appointments. If you have suffered a similar injury and Coca-Cola or their insurer allege that your injury was pre-existing, you may need to provide supporting documentation that indicates that the other injury had healed or that the condition had improved and this is either a new injury or it aggravated an existing condition. Remember to hang on to all evidence, as that will be needed to support your claim. Hurt or Sick While Working at Coca-Cola? If you’re hurt or sick because of your job at Coca-Cola, file a workers’ compensation claim through Human Resources. Make sure that you follow these four steps: If you’re hurt or sick, let your supervisor know as soon as you can. Don’t wait until the end of your shift. If you think you’ve been exposed to compressed gas and you’re having a hard time breathing, call 911. Fill out an accident report. This report documents exactly what happened in your accident. If you’re a delivery driver and you’ve been involved in a wreck or even if you’ve hurt yourself unloading your products, call 911. The responding police officer will fill out a report. You can get a copy of that report later by calling the police station. You are entitled to medical care. Even if you don’t think that you’re seriously injured, see a doctor. Continuing to work after you’ve been hurt can make your injury work. If you have a medical emergency, such as extensive bleeding, you have the right to go to the emergency room. You also have the right to see your own doctor. Talk to a workers’ comp attorney. Coca-Cola has the duty to provide its employees with workers’ comp insurance through an insurance company. Insurance companies want to settle claims for as little as possible. Make sure that you protect yourself. Get the Legal Help You Deserve Your life can drastically change if you are injured or made sick from your work at Coca-Cola. If you are off for a long period of time, you may not be able to go back to your original position (particularly if your injury prohibits that type of work). Sometimes, employers don’t follow the law and help you when they should. The only way that you can guarantee fair treatment is to hire a workers’ comp attorney. Don’t delay. Protect yourself and your family. Workers’ compensation claims can be challenging and there are specific forms that must be completed. There are also strict deadlines that must be met. Missing a deadline, or a simple mistake on a form can cause your claim to be denied. Coca-Cola and their insurance provider both have legal representation, so you should have someone looking out for your interests and making sure you are treated fairly. A workers’ comp lawyer will stand up for you and help you gather the supporting evidence and documentation that your claim needs. You will not pay anything out of pocket when you hire a workers’ comp lawyer because they take cases on a contingency basis. To get connected with a workers’ compensation attorney who handles claims in your state, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page. You will learn the best way to proceed with your workers’ compensation claim against Coca-Cola. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Coca Cola, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources How Much is My Claim Against Coca Cola Worth?* Workers’ Compensation for Injuries at Food Manufacturers
