130,000 people work at one or another of Dollar General’s 15,000 odd stores which are located across the continental U.S. Few people in the U.S. don’t know what a Dollar General store sells. It is one of America’s largest discount stores selling all sorts of basic items, some of which are household necessities and food. Dollar General tends to keep its overheads down by employing few employees in one of its stores at any one time. That means that Dollar General employees often find they are doing just about everything in the store at some point in the day: from manning the cash register, to restocking shelves, cleaning the floor and putting labels on goods displayed for sale. How Does Dollar General Workers’ Comp Work? Dollar General’s workers’ compensation insurance can help pay for all expenses and missed wages due to an injury or illness that has taken place at work. However, if you wish to win your claim for workers’ compensation, you need to follow a process. Get Medical Attention As soon as you are injured, you need to get medical attention as soon as possible. This could mean calling an ambulance if your injury is serious. Even if your injury appears to be minor, it is still a must for you to seek medical attention as some injuries take time to show their full effect. Seeking medical attention for your injuries regardless of their severity is also important because if you fail to do so, you will not have the evidence that the injury took place while at work at Dollar General. If you must seek urgent medical treatment, you should tell your supervisor and get them or a co-worker to do this for you. The supervisor will then know your injury took place at work. You should start to gather evidence proving the injury took place at work and this can include the following: written eye witness reports; photos of the scene where the injury took place; proof of a doctor or hospital visit; a written medical report from your doctor including diagnosis, treatment and potential recovery time. As soon as you have all the information required to support your claim for workers’ compensation at Dollar General you should file a claim. You will find the whole process of winning workers’ compensation easier if you speak with a lawyer first. Who is Covered Under Dollar General's Workers’ Compensation? Every state, except for Texas, makes it mandatory for large employers like Dollar General to have workers’ compensation insurance. The policy is a no-fault type of policy, so workers who are injured at work do not have to prove that they were not at fault. The company does employ a mixture of people. Some are temporary; others are permanent. Some work part time; others work long hours. All are entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim if they have an accident while at work and are inured. They are not covered while commuting to or from work. For example, a cashier who slips over on a wet floor in a Dollar General store and twists her ankle can claim compensation. If the same employee slips over on a patch of ice while walking to her car in a shopping center parking lot at the end of her shift, she will not be covered. Who is not Covered Under Dollar General's Workers’ Compensation? There are a few situations which prevent a worker at Dollar General from filing a claim or are such that they end up having their claim challenged or denied. The most common is a simple one: employees are injured but forget to tell their supervisor or ensure it is officially recorded. The other common reason is that the insurer believes that the employee was not injured at work, but somewhere else. Other less common reasons why an employee might not be covered are: if the worker did not follow safety procedures; if the worker was found to be drunk, affected by taking drugs or other illegal substances; if the worker deliberately acted in a dangerous way or deliberately attempted to have an accident in order to obtain compensation. Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer It makes sense to discuss your workplace accident with a professional workers’ compensation lawyer before filing a claim to make sure you have anything you need to show ready to submit. While the main process of filing a claim after a workplace injury should be straightforward, making an appeal is not. If your claim is denied for any reason, you will find that a workers’ compensation lawyer will be an invaluable aid. Complete the Free Case Evaluation today! *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 Dollar General, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Do You Need a Lawyer if You Were Hurt at Dollar General*? Tips for Getting Workers’ Comp After an Injury at Dollar General* Filing a Dollar General* Workers’ Compensation Claim in California
