Driving a forklift around the warehouse or store in a busy Home Depot can be risky and accidents certainly happen from time to time. If you were injured when operating a forklift while working at Home Depot you should be able to claim compensation through the company’s workers’ compensation insurance arrangements. It is advisable to discuss making a claim for compensation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before filing the claim. Company Profile: Home Depot The Home Depot is as well known across North America as any other huge chain store. Home Depots stores are found all over the United States, Canada and Mexico and further afield as far as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgins. The first Home Depot was established in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978 and focused on offering a comprehensive supply of home improvement goods to the public, including tools, construction equipment, gardening items and everything for the interior of a home. There are now over 2,000 Home Depot stores across the U.S. that employ over 300,000 workers. How a Forklift Accident Could Happen While Working for Home Depot Forklift accidents can affect the operator or anyone who happens to be working close by. Forklifts are essential pieces of equipment in any warehouse, needed to lift pallets of goods coming into the store or any heavy items. Poor loading can cause the forklift to topple over sideways or frontwards. Some forklift accidents happen when the machine has a fault and doesn’t stop easily. Accidents are most common when employees are expected to use a forklift without sufficient training. This is when an employee can be injured even if they are not the operator but working close to where the forklift is being used by an untrained worker. Claiming Workers Compensation After a Forklift Accident While Working for Home Depot In most states, there are strict rules about workers’ compensation. You need to inform your supervisor within a stated number of weeks. An official record of your forklift injury will be important evidence when making a claim. You will find that witness statements, a report from a doctor any other medical records will be useful evidence to support your claim. Workers’ compensation is typically limited to a payment for medical treatment and part of any lost wages due to the injury. Long term disability or permanent disability may also be covered in part or on full depending on the state your workplace is located in. A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You With Your Claim If you have any concerns about your claim or what you need to include when submitting it, it is best to get some advice from a workers’ compensation attorney. If your claim is denied for any reason you may be able to appeal the decision, but will find that this is difficult and time consuming without legal help that an attorney can provide. To consult with a lawyer, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page. *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 Home Depot, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Benefits for Injuries Suffered While Operating a Forklift Process For Filing For Workers’ Comp. at Home Depot*
