What You Need to Know About Warehouse Workers’ Compensation

Warehouses can be dangerous environments for workers, so much so that the U.S. warehousing industry has a higher rate of fatal injuries than any other industry. According to the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation, and warehousing was one of the six private industry sectors in 2021 to see an increase in total recordable injury and illness cases, increasing from 206,900 cases in 2020 to 253,100 cases in 2021.

Heavy machinery, high shelves, and heavy lifting can create an environment that puts warehouse workers at risk of injury. Some of the most common types of warehouse worker injuries include forklift accidents, slips, trips or falls, overexertion injuries, and being struck by objects.

If you are a warehouse worker who has been injured at work, it’s important to understand your rights to ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to. This article will explain these further as well as the necessary steps to take after being injured in a warehouse accident.

Warehouse Workers’ Compensation

Warehouse worker injuries can have a significant impact on a worker’s health, quality of life, and earning potential. Warehouse Workers’ Compensation is a system designed to protect workers who are injured on the job by providing certain benefits to employees who acquired work related  injuries or become ill as a result of their work.

As it is a no-fault insurance system, employees are entitled to receive benefits without having to prove their employer was at fault, but instead, employees give up the right to sue their employer for damages. For more guidance on this system, consider booking a free consultation with an experienced lawyer such as an Amazon warehouse workers compensation lawyer. Workers’ compensation benefits for injured warehouse workers typically include:

• Medical Expenses: The scheme can provide coverage to help employees pay for medical expenses such as emergency room visits, surgeries, and medications.
• Lost Wages: If an employee needs time off from work to recover from a work-related injury or illness, workers’ compensation can assist in providing partial replacement of their lost income.  This can also include disability payments if the injury prevents them from returning to work.
• Ongoing Care: In some cases, an employee’s work-related injuries or illnesses may require multiple treatments to fully recover. Workers’ compensation insurance can assist in covering the ongoing costs of their care, such as physical therapy.
• Death Benefits: If a warehouse worker dies as a result of a work-related injury, their family may be eligible for death benefits. This can include funeral expenses and financial support for their dependents.

Steps to Take

If you are a warehouse worker who has been injured while at work, follow the steps below to ensure that you receive the benefits you are entitled to:

1. Report the injury to your employer: failure to do so could result in a denial of benefits.
2. Seek medical attention: this ensures you receive the treatment you need, but also creates a record of your injury that can be used to support your claim.
3. Keep records: document all medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injury.

By taking the correct steps you can protect your rights and get the support you need following your warehouse injury.