Home Depot is a busy home improvement store spread throughout the country. There are many jobs available such as general warehouse associates who are employed to do a variety of tasks such as unloading and loading of trucks, operating forklifts and other heavy machinery like motorized conveyor belts and hoists. Anything that involves heavy lifting over a long period of time could result in a painful hernia developing. This is caused by the regular bending of the body when carrying heavy goods or cartons. Sometimes, the injury is not serious, while at other times it is so painful that immediate medical treatment is required. If you work at Home Depot and you have the proof the hernia is caused by your job, you should be able to claim worker’s compensation to cover you for loss of earnings and medical treatment. As worker’s comp. is based on no fault, even if you are partly to blame for your hernia, this should not stop you winning a WC claim. To avoid your claim being denied you should contact a worker’s comp. attorney to help you through the process. How Hernias can Occur at Work and Treatment Options Not all jobs at Home Depot are automated, so that means heavy lifting is required to help load goods onto trucks and shelves at times. Over a long period of doing the same work, a hernia could develop. This is when pressure is put on the abdominal region displacing an organ like the intestine which protrudes out of the abdominal wall. Sometimes, it can typically be pushed back into place while at other times surgery may be required to secure the vital organ back where it belongs. Filing a WC Claim For a Hernia Against Home Depot One of the first things you need to consider before filing a WC claim is making sure you told your supervisor within 24 hours of the painful hernia occurring. If you haven’t your claim could be rejected. If you have you will now need to gather together the proof that the hernia is due to your job at Home Depot. Your doctor should be able to confirm this as s/he will know if you have any other risk factors for developing a hernia, such as being overweight. Before you begin any treatment you should check with Home Depot’s WC insurer to make sure you can get treated by your own physician. Some insurers insist you use their physician and medical facilities for treatment while other employers will let you choose. If Home Depot’s insurer agrees to your claim you should get two thirds of your wages paid and all your medical treatment. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help You With Your Claim The most usual reason for a WC claim to be denied is when Home Depot’s insurer does not believe the hernia was due to your job. This is when a WC attorney can play an important role and on your behalf file an 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 Home Depot, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation After Working At Home Depot Part-Time How Much is a Claim Against Home Depot Worth?*
