Most employees working at one of the thousands of Walmart stores do a lot of manual work. If they pull or strain a muscle that they use a lot in their work it can make that work unbearable. Most strained muscle injuries occur to muscles that are used time and time again. For example, any Walmart warehouse worker expects to bend over and lift up store goods many times a day. Back muscles can easily become strained or ‘pulled.’ The best way to deal with a pulled muscle is to get it seen to by a doctor and have professional medical treatment if it is a serious strain. In the meantime, a workers’ compensation claim can be made. A successful claim can help pay for any treatment and pay a good portion of normal wages while off work allowing the injury to heal properly. Walmart is One of the World’s Largest Corporate Employers Walmart has expanded hugely since its establishment back in 1962 in Arkansas. It was a commercial gamble by Sam Walton, who had been in the variety store business since the end of the Second World War. Post war America was embarking on a consumer frenzy and that’s what Walmart satisfied – almost every ordinary product an American working family needed in one large store with the added advantage of parking space. By 2016, the number of Walmart employees reached the 2.3 million mark, making it the world’s largest employer, even though the chain of 12,000 odd stores are almost entirely restricted to only 2 countries – the U.S. and Canada! How a Pulled Muscle Could Affect Your Ability To Work Pulled muscle injuries usually occur because part of the body is stretched or strained excessively. When a muscle becomes pulled, it causes damage to the muscle tissue. The body responds by flooding the affected area with fluid. This is to protect the muscle from attack by microbes, but can cause severe tenderness, swelling an unbearable pain. The injury may sometimes be quite minor, allowing work to continue, but typically, doing the same work prolongs the agony and makes recovery slower. Where Workers’ Compensation Comes In A badly strained muscle can prevent the average Walmart worker from going back to work for several days or weeks until the swelling and pain subside. But who pays the bills while the breadwinner is off work? This is where workers’ compensation comes in. It is a no-fault type of insurance, so there is no need to prove that Walmart was at fault. You do need to follow the correct claim procedure and provide evidence that your injury happened while at work and how much it is costing you. Workers’ comp. payments should cover all medical treatment as well as a proportion of lost earnings. The good thing about pulled muscle injuries is that given relatively simple treatment and rest, they will almost always heal, allowing a return to work. You May Need to Hire a Workers’ Comp. Attorney An experienced attorney will have dealt with many pulled muscle workplace injuries before as they are relatively common reasons for making a claim. The attorney can help explain the procedure to you and ensure you have sufficient documentation to support 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 Walmart, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Do Part-Time Walmart Employees Qualify for Workers' Comp? Can You File a Claim Against Walmart?
