Amazon is the world’s largest online retail business. It has a large work force of at least 300,000 workers. Many of the jobs are either in warehouses or driving delivery trucks. The warehouse jobs often involve moving large, awkwardly shaped packages, while the storage areas are way above the workers’ heads, meaning they may have to get up to a great height to both store and retrieve packages. It doesn’t take much to realize that accidents are likely to take place. However, Amazon, like most employers in the country, is required to take out workers’ compensation insurance to cover most of its workers when injuries take place as a result of accidents. When you have been injured and put in your claim, there is a certain formula you need to use to make your calculation so you can file a claim for workers’ compensation that is fair. Calculating the Value of a Workers’ Compensation Claim When you calculate your workers’ compensation claim for lost wages, you base this on the weekly pay you would normally have received if you had been at work. This amount will last you for a certain time period, but if you can’t return to work because your disability is permanent you will need to make another calculation. As an example, the average hourly rate for an Amazon warehouse worker is $13.50 per hour, so a claim based on a 40 hour week will work out to be $540. You still have to include the cost of your medical treatment, but there is no cap on that and what it costs is what you claim. It is important to include future medical costs in your claim. Most states set their own limits on the length of time temporary workers’ compensation benefits are made available. This can be anything from three to seven years. If you are claiming for a permanent disability there is typically no time limit on these kinds of workers’ compensation claims, but sometimes they are limited to the age of 65 years. Workers’ compensation payment may be capped at $1,000 per week. A claim is not the same as a settlement. This may need to be negotiated. For example, settlements are based on a percentage of lost wages, not the full amount. As a rule of thumb, most states determine that percentage to be around 66% (two thirds) of the amount you might have earned. You Can’t Claim For Pain and Suffering Workers’ compensation law does not permit a workers’ compensation claim to include any extra amount for pain and suffering. This is factored in to the allowable 2/3rds of your average weekly earnings. An injured worker is eligible for workers’ compensation based on his or her inability to work which includes any pain and suffering that has to be endured due to the injury. You May Need an Attorney If you are finding it difficult calculating what your workers’ compensation claim is, you should contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can do all the work on your behalf and try to ensure you get the amount you deserve. You are far more likely to get the right amount if your attorney is part of the negotiation process. Additional Resources What Do I Need to Know Before I File a Claim Against Amazon*? Help! I Was Hurt Working for Amazon*! *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Amazon, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
