An accident at work can become a real worry for an injured employee and their family. Who is going to pay for medical treatment and what happens to your job and any lost wages? In most cases, especially if you work for a reasonably large employer, you should be able to claim back any medical expenses and even replace a good fraction of lost wages. You should be able to do this by filing a workers’ compensation claim with either your employer’s insurer or a state body in charge of workers’ compensation arrangements. If you are unsure of your rights after a workplace injury, you should seek advice from an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. WinCo Foods: Company Profile WinCo Foods is a chain of supermarkets based in Boise, Idaho. There are currently 122 stores which are found scattered across Idaho and other western states and Texas. There are 18,000 people presently employed in WincCo stores. The WinCo chain is a little unusual for a successful supermarket chain as it is owned by its own employees, together with former employees. The concept seems to be working as the company is currently in an expansion phase, with a planned move into California and Oklahoma. Potential Dangers / Injuries Working For WinCo Foods WinCo employees may own their own premises and benefit from the profits made, but they still have to do the work needed to keep their stores going. That puts them at a certain level of risk at work. Here are some typical accident and injury scenarios at a WinCo store: Strains, hernias and herniated discs from too much heavy or awkward lifting. Typically this happens to those employees whose job it is to sort out and unpack goods and get them into the sales area. Slipping over and tripping up account for the majority of store accidents. Injuries range from minor scratches and embarrassment right through to major injuries like bone fractures, dislocated joints, spinal injuries and brain injury. These injuries can be exacerbated by falling on top off a hard surface, the edge of a shelf or some other sharp object. When objects fall on top of an employee’s body or head. This could be cans of baked beans or household goods. Poorly stacked goods are most likely to be the reason for these sorts of accidents. Head injuries and face injuries are the most common results. Talk to a Workers’ Comp. Attorney As long as you are working at your place of work when an accident happens, you should be able to claim compensation after a workplace injury. However, this is not always as straightforward as it should be. Your employer’s insurer may try and challenge the claim. This is when you should seek legal advice and help from an experienced workers; comp. attorney. Additional Resources Falls and Workers' Compensation Common Mistakes When Documenting My Workplace Accident *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 WinCo Foods, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
