Companies and shoppers depend on people working in shipping and distribution centers throughout the nation and the world. While it can be satisfying work, these jobs aren’t without risks. These people can deal with many work-related dangers.
After a workplace injury, don’t neglect that you’re likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, LLC, are attorneys for work-related issues who help our clients navigate an often complicated workers’ compensation process.
Shipping and distribution center employees encounter risks in many ways. Workers use machines that raise them off the ground in a few moments to reach inventory high atop shelves.
Distribution and shipping employee injuries can also happen due to using forklifts to transport heavy pallets of a company’s inventory. These giant vehicles can cause serious injury or death if improperly used.
Most people picture workplace injuries as sudden and violent events. That’s not always the case. Most of the time, Walmart distribution center workplace injuries result from repetitive motions and injuries occurring over prolonged periods.
Some of the most common distribution center workplace injuries include:
After a Walmart distribution center workplace injury occurs, the injured party can feel confused about what to do next. In this case, most injured Walmart employees believe that their employer must be at fault for these individuals to receive workers’ compensation. However, it’s available regardless of fault.
Being the victim of a workplace injury is reason enough to receive benefits. Attorneys for work-related issues can be invaluable sources of help during such a trying time.
If you sustained an injury at the Walmart distribution center in Pageland, South Carolina, following these steps helps give your workers’ compensation claim the best chance to succeed.
Your health and safety take precedence over all aspects of your claim. Seek medical attention after an injury happens. But what should you do if your injury is due to repetitive motions or musculoskeletal-related ailments? Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Keeping up with initial and follow-up medical appointments
After a Walmart distribution center workplace injury in South Carolina, you must report what happened to Walmart no more than 90 days after it happened. However, specific reporting-related procedures vary from employer to employer. You must follow Walmart’s official employee guidelines for reporting workplace injuries.
Repetitive injury victims should file a report with Walmart within 90 days after they began seeking medical treatment or if said injury prevented them from performing their job-related duties, whichever comes first.
Depending on where your Walmart distribution center workplace injury happened, others might have seen it. If you think or believe witnesses observed your accident, contact them. This step isn’t a requirement. You can still have a valid workers’ compensation claim in South Carolina without having anyone witness your injury. However, having others back up your side of events can strengthen your workers’ compensation claim.
After your injury, you have two years to file a workers’ compensation claim. That said, limited exceptions exist. If your injury occurred over two years ago, consulting with an attorney is still a wise move. Exemptions may apply to your case.
Some cases seem simple. However, even in those situations, our experience shows that a company, its attorneys, and its insurance companies will fight hard to invalidate workers’ compensation claims. Their tactics often include disputing claim-related documents and details.
If you’re going up against a large company, it could be helpful to have experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in your corner to help you fight for what you deserve, protect your best interests, and assist with appealing denied claims.