Working at a grocery store that specializes in healthy living can be very gratifying. You may enjoy your job at Trader Joe’s, but what would happen to you or your family if you are hurt on the job? Do you have money in a savings account to cover your expenses if you are unable to work? Getting hurt on the job can cause financial devastation. Workers’ Compensation Helps if You’re Hurt on the Job If you’re hurt during your shift at Trader Joe’s, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Each state has a law that requires most employers to have a workers’ compensation insurance policy in place to protect their employees. If you are hurt and you need to file a claim, you can do so at no cost. There are many benefits associated with filing a workers’ compensation claim. All of the benefits are in place to act as a safety net. Common benefits include: Medical help: When you file a claim, ask for a copy of a list of healthcare providers who can treat you at no charge. You’re also eligible to receive emergency medical care, doctors’ visits, surgery, prescriptions, and even physical therapy. You can get this help even if you don’t have health insurance. This is one of the best known benefits of workers’ compensation. Receiving a portion of lost wages: If you are unable to work, temporarily or permanently, because of your on the job injury, you may qualify to receive a portion of your lost wages. Occupational training: If you won’t be able to return to your job, you may be eligible to receive occupational training through workers’ compensation. You can learn new skills and be prepared to find a new line of work. To access any benefits, you must file a claim if you are hurt on the job. Gathering Evidence For a Trader Joes Workers’ Compensation Claim If you have been injured while working in Trader Joes as a store worker filling shelves and you have slipped and fallen while in the course of your duties you should be able to file a WC claim with Trader Joes workers’ compensation insurer. In order for your claim to be successful you need indisputable evidence to prove your accident and injury took place while you were at work. If Trader Joes WC insurer doesn’t believe the injury you got took place at work, then it will be difficult to win a workers’ compensation settlement. Examples of Evidence That Can be Used in a Trader Joes WC Claim The evidence you provide could be any of the following: eye witness’ written reports describing how the accident took place; photographs taken at the accident site showing what caused the accident; footage received from surveillance cameras located around the Trader Joes store; a report from your physician describing your injury, how it took place and expected recovery period; receipts showing medical treatment which has either been paid for or is still unpaid; How To File a Claim As soon as the accident has taken place you need to get the necessary medical treatment as soon as possible. Sometimes you can only be treated by a doctor approved by Trader Joe. If this is the case you should follow this requirement if you wish to be eligible for workers’ compensation. The next step is to inform your supervisor of your injury preferably in writing so you have proof to show you have followed the correct procedure by informing your supervisor within the required time frame. Some employers only give their workers 24 hours to report an injury which if not followed could lead to a WC claim denial. Your report should include the following: type of injury; time, date and where in Trader Joes the injury took place; the names of anyone else involved in the accident; how the slip and fall accident occurred; a description of the medical treatment received so far for the injury. The next step is to prepare your WC claim. Trader Joe may give you a claim’s form to complete. You should fill in all the information required and file your WC claim with its insurer as well as your state workers' comp. board administrative office. Most states set a statute of limitations for filing workers’ compensation claims which could be from 12 months to 3 years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline then you will most likely lose your chance to reach a workers’ compensation settlement. Once your claim has been evaluated by the WC insurer, you will be notified as to whether your claim has been successful and the amount of compensation you will receive. If, for any reason, your WC claim has been denied, this is often due to a mistake made on the claim’s form such as information you have missed out, you may be given the opportunity to lodge an appeal. Your WC lawyer can help you file the appeal as he or she that extra bit of knowledge which may help you to win your claim. You can expect to receive the cost of all your medical treatment as well as two thirds of your weekly wage until you have recovered enough to return to work. The amount you receive in lost wages may depend on which state the accident in Trader Joes took place. Potential Risks of Working at Trader Joe’s Even specialty grocery stores pose risks to workers. Although no one goes to their shift at Trader Joe’s thinking about getting hurt on the job, it can still happen even when the proper safety precautions are followed. Here are two of the most common risks you may face as a Trader Joe’s employee: Slip and fall: Regardless of whether you are a cashier, a warehouse worker, a stocker, or any other position at Trader Joe’s, you are at risk of a slip and fall. Broken eggs, leaking containers, cleaning supplies, flour, and even water after cleaning the floor can create a hazard. A slip and fall can cause you to hit your head or herniate a disc in your neck or back. Repetitive stress injuries: If you are working as a cashier or a warehouse worker for Trader Joe’s, you may develop repetitive stress injuries in your knees, hands, wrists, or even your shoulders. This happens because you spend a large amount of your day repeating the same movements. These injuries could require pain medication, physical therapy, and even surgery. Learn More About Workers’ Compensation Getting hurt on the job is extremely serious. If you have questions about workers’ compensation or if you want to make sure that you’re getting all of the benefits that you’re entitled to receive, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Trader Joe's, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
