Working for Home Depot can be an immensely varied job. One minute you may be showing a customer how a particular appliance works; the other will find you climbing a ladder to refill a shelf, retrieve a box of tools, or check on stock. However as used to using a ladder you are, there is always the possibility that you could fall off and injure yourself. Fortunately, as a Home Depot employee, you should be covered by the company’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. Compensation is not automatic. You have to file a claim for a payment that can help pay for necessary medical treatment and replace any lost wages. Company Profile: Home Depot The Home Depot is as well known across America as other big name chain stores like Walmart. It is not a general type of store, but sells all manner of home improvement items. You can buy anything related to improving your own home from tools to fertilizer for your garden or cement for your driveway. The Home Depot has grown considerably since its launch back in 1978. It is now bigger than any other competitor and has over 2,200 stores located across the U.S., as well as more stores located in Canada, Mexico, the Virgins and Puerto Rico. The Home Depot employs over 300,000 employees so it is not surprising that there are always a number of injuries in any one of those stores. How a Ladder Accident Could Happen While Working for the Home Depot Home Depot is a major home improvement store and stocks hundreds of different items. Like many other similar large stores, items for sale are usually placed at ground level where customers can view them and take what they want to purchase. Spare items of the same type are usually stacked higher up on shelves. It is one of the jobs of associates who work for the Home Depot to check that there is enough stock on these shelves and refill the spaces below them. It is easy to overbalance on one of these ladders and fall off, especially if attempting to maneuver a large item. Some ladder accidents are also caused by faulty ladders with loose or broken rungs or lack of securing catches at the top end. Claiming Workers Compensation After Falling Off a Ladder While Working for Home Depot Workers’ compensation rules vary somewhat from state to state, but most ensure employees are covered by the company’s insurance for injuries and illnesses that occur at work. In some states, the Home Depot may self-insure, rather than have insurance with a commercial carrier. If injured after a fall off a ladder, you will certainly need to let your supervisor know about the injury, as this record will be important evidence when making a claim. You normally have a certain amount of time in which to make a claim. A successful workers’ compensation payment should cover all medical costs as well as a percentage of normal wages that are lost because of not being able to return to work straight away after the accident. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help You With Your Claim Not all workers’ compensation claims proceed as smoothly as they should. Insurers can make it difficult to prove that the injury was workplace related or doubt the seriousness of an injury. It is advisable to discuss your accident with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before actually filing a claim as the attorney can advise you what documentation you need to include with the claim. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to speak with a lawyer. *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 the Home Depot, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Do I Need A Lawyer If I Am Hurt Working at Home Depot*? Process For Filing For Workers’ Comp. at Home Depot*
