Family Dollar is a household name in America as it has been around since 1959. It is a variety store for the budget minded so can often get crowded when shoppers are out to seek a bargain. Even though its revenue typically tops more than 10 billion dollars annually it doesn’t mean it has sufficient staff on its payroll. When there is a shortfall in staff accidents are just waiting to happen. Cartons from unpacked goods are left in the aisles ready for the unsuspecting worker to trip over and hit his or her head on the corner of one of the steel shelves. Foodstuffs get knocked off shelves causing slippery surfaces which can cause dangerous slip and falls causing back injuries. As Family Dollar is a large employer it should have all its workers covered by worker’s comp. insurance. So if an accident happens, the worker should not suffer financially. It sounds simple enough, but typically Family Dollar’s WC insurers often deny worker’s compensation to employers claiming they have the legal grounds to do so. If this has happened to you, a WC appeal is possible, but you will need an experienced worker’s comp. lawyer to help you through the process. Why Would I be Denied WC at Family Dollar? Workers’ comp. insurers always have reasons up their sleeves to deny your workers’ comp. claim such as: You have missed the statutory deadline of informing your family dollar supervisor of your accident or illness. You have missed the deadline for filing a worker’s compensation claim which can be anything up to 12 months depending on the state. This is always a good reason cited by Family Dollar’s WC insurer. Your employer says you were off work when the alleged accident took place; Your employers says your alleged injury was from a past accident and not when employed by Family Dollar; Family Dollar’s WC insurer does not think your injuries are serious enough to be covered by worker’s comp. You were no longer employed by Family Dollar when the WC claim came through. Process to Follow if Denied a Claim at Family Dollar Many WC denials are quite unjustified, even if you were no longer on the job when you put in the claim for an illness or repetitive strain that was due to your job at Family Dollar. Because of this you should always consider appealing a WC denial with the help of a WC lawyer who knows the way Family Dollar’s WC insurer works. If you decide to lodge a WC denial appeal you have to get in quick as once you have received the denial notification you have a time limit set to file your appeal. It might only be a matter of days. The first part of a WC appeal is going through mediation, which involves an independent mediator trying to reach an amicable arrangement with regards to your WC claim. If this fails you can request a formal hearing which requires that you bring all the evidence such as witness’s statements, physicians’ reports and the proof you followed all required deadlines. If this fails to bring a favorable outcome, you can move on to being heard by your state’s workers’ comp. appeals board, or by a panel of workers’ compensation judges. You should have reached some sort of agreement by now with Family Dollar’s WC insurer but, if not, you can still try an appeal through your state’s court system. Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer You should never try to appeal a WC denial on your own as you have little hope of being successful. An experienced worker’s comp. lawyer knows how to win over insurers to favor your WC claim. Additional Resources Do I Need A Lawyer If I Am Hurt Working at Family Dollar? I Slipped While Shoveling Snow Outside of Family Dollar 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 Family Dollar, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
