Recovering from an injury can be a full-time job, and it might mean that you have to give up your salaried full-time job to do just that. Suffering an ankle injury while working at Lowe’s leave you in pain and temporarily without a job while you get better. That doesn’t mean that you have to worry about finances while you’re recovering. If you file a workers’ compensation claim, you might have the opportunity to get money to support you while you’re recovering from your injury. Most companies have workers’ compensation insurance to plan for this exact scenario, so don’t be afraid to file a claim and take advantage of it. Company Profile: Lowe’s North Wilkesboro, North Carolina was the home of the first Lowe’s, which was established in 1921. The company originally focused on hardware and dry goods, and it expanded throughout North Carolina in the 1950s. When it was purchased in 1999 by a hardware and garden company, it had the capital to expand and compete with Home Depot, whose rise began in the 1980s. Despite the competition, Lowe’s has expanded to 2,370 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. 290,000 people work at Lowe’s, and the company earned over $59 billion in revenue in 2016. The company has come a long way from North Wilkesboro. How Hurting Your Ankle at Lowe’s Can Affect Your Work Like many retail jobs, working at Lowe’s requires a lot of movement, which means that an ankle injury can impede your work. Being able to walk around the retail space (which is enormous at a home improvement store like Lowe’s) could become impossible. Additionally, moving large objects (such as boxes of power tools, fans, and building equipment) is difficult without being able to stabilize yourself on one of your legs. Although it’s clear how hurting your ankle at Lowe’s could affect your work when you’re a salesperson, it can affect just about any job that requires movement. If you’re a regional manager, you might have to go around to many Lowe’s locations to inspect each store. Doing this with an injured ankle simply may not be feasible and could require time off to fully recover. There Could Be Help Available According to PayScale, the average hourly wage of a Lowe’s employee is $13, which could amount to $2,210 a month. Since an ankle injury can take up to four months to recover from, you have the potential to gain $8,840 to cover the work that you would be missing. That amount doesn’t even take into account the money that you could receive to cover the medical expenses that you might incur during your recovery period. Getting this kind of financial compensation allows you to prioritize your recovery, and a workers’ comp attorney would be in the best position to secure these funds for you. Find an Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorney Having an ankle injury can be difficult, and it makes many aspects of your life more difficult. If you combine those difficulties with the fact that you also are unable to work, a simple ankle injury could turn out to be a very taxing source of strain during your recovery period. You shouldn’t have to deal with filing a claim alone while trying to get better. A workers’ compensation attorney can make all the difference with your claim. Your attorney gather evidence, argue on your behalf, and be your advocate, and he or she will do that without even being paid upfront. In other words, there is a lot to be gained from hiring a workers’ compensation attorney. Consider finding a qualified one who practices in your state--your claim has the best chance of being successful with his or her help. The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Lowe's, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
