Amazon is a massive busy online store with goods both big and small being packed and sent out to purchasers both day and night. Some of the jobs involve repetitive motions and could cause bursitis in knees, hips and shoulders. If you have this problem you should take time off to get the right medical treatment and recover from this painful injury. Even though it’s not an accident as such, it’s a workplace initiated injury which means you should be eligible for workers’ compensation insurance. However, Amazon may not be as forthcoming as you think at providing workers’ compensation, so to help you ensure you get your entitlements you should talk to an experienced workers’ comp. attorney first. What is Bursitis? Bursitis is an inflammation caused by the overworking of the bursal sac which lubricates areas around the joints and tendons which are involved in movement such as knees, shoulders and hips. Continuous repetitive use causes the bursal sac to lose its lubrication capability causing the area to become inflamed and painful. Amazon employees are particular susceptible to this workplace injury as they use parts of their body in repetitive motions such as lifting heavy cartons over and over again, operating the controls on a forklift for 8 hours a day and operating pallet jacks. It does tend to happen to workers over 40 years of age but it is possible to treat and recover completely. How to Claim Workers’ Comp. for Bursitis from Amazon As soon as you are diagnosed with bursitis by your doctor, you will need to start the treatment that is recommended to you. It is imperative your doctor compiles a written report about your bursitis so that Amazon’s insurer has first hand evidence that you are suffering from a workplace related injury. You will also need to inform your supervisor in writing as quickly as possible. A more formal injury report will need to be submitted, typically within a few weeks of discovering you have bursitis. Amazon may not permit you to select your physician so you will have to visit the physician that is provided on the workers’ comp. documentation. You must ensure you file a workers’ compensation claim with all the relevant back up detail to ensure there is no delay in receiving payments. You will also need the names of any one at work who can vouch that the nature of your job could cause bursitis. Amazon’s insurer should pay you around 2/3rds of your weekly wage which, depending on the state, may be subject to time limits. The important thing is that Amazon is convinced that your bursitis is caused by your job while working at Amazon. It is this that is the deciding factor for receiving workers’ compensation. Arrange To Talk To A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer There is no guarantee that Amazon’s insurer is going to honor your workers’ comp. claim so you should consult a workers’ comp. attorney first to ensure you get the workers’ compensation you deserve. Additional Resources Can I Be Fired For Filing an Amazon* Workers’ Comp. Claim? What is the Average Amazon* Workers’ Compensation 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 Amazon, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
