Accidents can happen anywhere and don’t always happen because you have been careless. Slip and fall accidents, for instance, are quite common and may occur due to factors out of your direct control. If you are injured at work due to an unexpected accident, such as a slip and fall, you may be able to recover the cost of necessary medical treatment and any loss in earnings by filing a workers’ compensation claim. A successful claim may be facilitated with the help of a workers’ comp attorney. Starbucks – Company Profile Starbucks is to coffee as McDonald’s is to burgers. It is a U.S. based international chain of coffee shops, instantly recognized around the globe. Starbucks are found almost everywhere, from shopping centers to airport lounges, city centers and along highways. There are currently around 24,000 coffee shops operating under the Starbucks logo. The company headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, where the Starbucks concept and business model was first established. Given the large number of locations, it is inevitable that a large number of people are employed by the company. There were reportedly 238,000 people working for Starbucks in 2016. A Slip and Fall Accident at Work Can Mean Several Weeks Off Work Slip and fall accidents while working in a Starbucks coffee shop may be relatively minor with superficial bruises and scratches, but occasionally, a more serious accident can result in significant injuries. If the fall takes the worker totally by surprise, then it is more likely that some part of the body might be hurt. It could be a gash if the soft part of the body encounters something sharp; a fractured arm, leg or hip; or a dislocated shoulder, elbow or knee joint. The worst injuries are when the worker lands on his or her back or head, hitting the ground or something else that is sharp or hard. These more serious injuries require urgent medical treatment and it is likely that the worker will be off work for quite some time. The actual length of time could be anywhere from a week to a month or more, depending on the exact nature of the injury. These time periods off work mean a workers’ comp claim could potentially be quite valuable, especially since workers’ compensation claims can cover a wide variety of injuries. Assessing the Value of a Workers’ Comp Claim at Starbucks Workers’ comp claims are intended to cover necessary medical treatment if a worker suffers an injury or illness at work. It also covers compensation, or at least a portion of it, while the injured employee is unable to return to work in their usual capacity. The medical component is calculated by adding up every cost associated with treatment received, whether it is surgery, medications, transportation to medical centers, x-rays, scans, medical assessments, or doctor’s visits. The wage component is based on a percentage (typically around two-thirds) of what would have been earned in the period away from the job. Here is a hypothetical example for a Starbucks coffee shop worker who slipped and fell over. This employee ended up fracturing an arm and is expected to stay home from work for 4 weeks while recovering. The claim could be $10 (hourly wage) x 36 (no. of hours normally worked per week) x 4 (no. of weeks off work) x 0.67 (percentage allowed of total wage component) = $960. Talk to a Workers’ Comp Attorney if You Need Legal Help Hopefully, your employer will be supportive and your Starbucks workers’ compensation claim encounters no obstacles and you get what you expected. However, workers’ comp claims are not always that straightforward, and you may feel frustrated with the lack of progress. That's the time to talk to a workers’ comp attorney to see if you can get some legal help with your claim. *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 Starbucks, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
