Steak N Shake is a chain of casual dining restaurants which operate mostly in the Midwest in the U.S., as well as several other countries. The chain is a combination of fast food, dine in, drive through and sit-down styles of restaurant. The corporate headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana. The restaurants are burger and shake type providers and employees typically cook orders in busy kitchens and deal with customers who may be outside in their vehicles, or waiting to be served at the counter or sitting at a table. The pressures on staff are so high that accidents are quite common. Typical injuries are burns, scalds, cuts and lacerations from machinery and tools in the kitchen, as well as slip and fall injuries while cleaning the floor or tables after customers have finished eating. Why Would I be Denied WC at Steak N Shake? Most Steak n Shake employees are directly employed in helping to operate the restaurant., either in the kitchen, preparing meals, or dealing with customers as waiters and waitresses. Like many other restaurant chains, the busiest times of the day tend to be around midday and the evening as well as at weekends and public holidays. Employees are either fulltime, especially those who work in the kitchen, or part time. Restaurant waiters and waitresses are more likely to be part time or casual workers. The numbers of temporary and permanent staff vary according to the time of the year. State workers’ compensation rules determine who is covered by insurance and who is not, but generally, all Steak N Shake workers, temporary or permanent, part or full time, should be covered by workers’ compensation. If you work for Steak N Shake you should find out what your own situation is in case of a workplace injury or illness. Process to Follow if Denied a Claim at Steak n Shake Workers’ compensation is a no-fault type of insurance. Unlike personal injury, there is no need for an injured employee to prove that their employer was negligent in respect to safety. However, there are several reasons why a WC claim may be denied. A denial may be made if an injury is suspected as having been caused away from the workplace, or if the employee was determined to have been drunk, affected by drugs, or injured themselves deliberately. This may seem unlikely, but insurers are never keen to pay compensation of any kind, so may find any slight reason to deny what is otherwise a reasonable workers’ comp. claim. Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer If you were injured while at work at a Steak n Shake restaurant but your claim for workers’ compensation was denied, you can still obtain payment, but may have to go through an appeal process. This can be lengthy and complicated so you are advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to provide the necessary legal advice and support through the steps of a valid appeal. Additional Resources Help! I Got Hurt Working for Steak 'n Shake! Workers’ Compensation in the Fast Food Industry 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 Steak N Shake, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
