No workplace is entirely risk free, and certainly working for a major home improvement retailer like Lowe’s can have its risks. There are many potential accidents which could occur in a Lowe’s store, warehouse, distribution center, or anywhere in between if you are a delivery driver. Some injuries may be very minor and a short recovery time may allow you to return to work, but other injuries could be much more serious. An injured employee may even be so badly injured that he or she may be permanently disabled and not return to work at all. Lowe’s is a large company and will have workers’ compensation insurance which should help to compensate for all types of workplace related injuries, whether minor or more serious. Company Profile: Lowe’s Lowe’s is the second largest home improvement chain in North America after The Home Depot. There are hundreds of stores and associated warehouses located across the country and neighboring Canada, employing over 310,000 people. The company was first established back in 1921 in North Carolina, where its headquarters are still located in the city of Mooresville. Lowe’s employees work as sales assistants, on cash registers, helping to stock shelves, handling incoming goods in warehouses and delivering items between regional distribution centers and suburban stores. Due to the number of employees, it is almost inevitable that some are injured in workplace accidents every day. Typical Workplace Injuries at Lowe’s There are many potential accidents that can occur when working at Lowe’s. Many of the jobs are quite physical and require lifting, carrying and standing. It is not uncommon for Lowe’s employees to develop back strain after long periods of heavy lifting. Slips, trips and falls could lead to a variety of injuries ranging from cuts and gashes to broken bones, dislocated joints and head and spinal injuries. Some accidents involve falling from a height or being hit by goods or other objects that fall on a worker’s head or body. Delivery drivers face the same sorts of dangers as any truck drivers when driving between Lowe’s distribution centers and stores. Delivery truck injuries can be very severe and mean many weeks or months off work recovering. Time Taken for Recovery After a Workplace Accident at Lowe’s There is no standard period of time which an injured Lowe’s worker needs to take recovering at home or receiving treatment. A slip and fall injury may be as minor as a few cuts and bruises or may involve a sprain, strain or fracture. This could mean a week or more, stretching to several weeks if a fracture needs to heal. More serious injuries still could occur if there is a major fall or an employee’s head is injured by a heavy, falling object or if the employee is hurt badly in a traffic accident. State workers’ compensation laws prevent an employer from firing an employee simply because of a claim for workers’ compensation, but there may come a time when a very serious workplace injury, demanding many months off work or the impossibility of returning to the same job, may mean forfeiting the job at Lowe’s. Permanent or partial disability payments may be available for these situations. A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help You with Your Claim Any lengthy period off work may require substantial compensation payments so that the injured employee and his or her family can subsist until a return to work. An experienced workers’ comp. attorney can provide advice and help with a claim, especially if a claim is denied for any reason by Lowe’s insurer, demanding a possible appeal. Additional Resources What You Need To Know if You Were Hurt as a Lowe's Employee Workers’ Comp. After I Got Hurt Working in a Lowe’s* Warehouse *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 Lowe’s, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
