The law requires all employers to provide a reasonably safe workplace – regardless of the size of its corporate office. In spite of these regulations, many workers still incur injuries on the job each day in retail settings like Walmart. If you’re injured on the job, you shouldn’t have to pay for medical bills or suffer through lost wages. That’s why Walmart carries workers’ compensation insurance, which should compensate injured workers for damages incurred on the job in most states.
Work-related injuries can be relatively minor, or they may require long-term recovery and medical treatments. Workers’ compensation claims provide much-needed financial relief from both so you can focus on your full recovery.
Types of Walmart Injuries
Walmart is one of our nation’s largest employers, giving jobs to 1.5 million people in the United States alone. The big box store fills dozens of different types of positions, including:
- Stockers
- Cashiers
- Inventory receivers
- Associates on the sales floor
- Cart attendants
- Truck drivers
Although each job has its own unique duties, they all require employees to handle products and customer inquiries while spending a lot of time on their feet. Walmart employees are vulnerable to any number of injuries, including:
- Injuries from repetitive motion. Cashiers, for example, may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or another type of repetitive stress injury.
- Injuries from operating heavy machinery. Stockers may use heavy machinery such as forklifts or cherry pickers, which may lead to serious crush injuries.
- Muscle strain or sprain. Lifting heavy objects, especially without proper conditioning or training on technique, can lead to back pain or strained muscles.
- Truck drivers face unique hazards from road travel and a sedentary lifestyle.
This is not an exhaustive list. Workers may also have to perform work outside of their work description without proper training. This can lead to issues with bursitis, pinched nerves, or other more serious injuries.
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Workers’ Compensation at Walmart
Texas is one of the few states in the nation that doesn’t require that all employers carry workers’ compensation insurance. As one of the nation’s largest employers, however, Walmart has workers’ compensation for all its employees.
Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” insurance program, which means you won’t have to prove Walmart was at fault for your injuries. In fact, you can collect workers’ compensation benefits even if the accident was partially your fault. In exchange for collecting benefits through the workers’ compensation system, you waive any right to pursue further litigation against the company (such as a civil lawsuit). Additionally, Walmart offers Texas workers’ compensation plans on a “non-subscriber” basis, which means they can be more subjective than other plans.
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How Does the Workers’ Compensation System Work?
If you’re injured at your Walmart job, tell your supervisor as soon as possible. According to Texas law, you have 30 days to give your employer notice of your injury. It’s in your best interest, however, to get the process started earlier than that. Your employer or their insurance company may look more skeptically at your claim if you report it days after the incident occurred.
Once you report your injury, your Walmart employer may tell you how to get medical care. Some require that you see an in-network provider, while others will allow you to receive care from your own physician. At your doctor’s office visit, be sure to mention that you were injured during the course of your job duties.
Your employer will file a report with the insurance company, and they will decide whether to approve it. If the insurance company denies your benefits, you may still be able to file a dispute.
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Contact a Walmart Work Injury Lawyer in Texas
The workers’ compensation system can be hard to navigate. If you’re facing a claim denial or feel your Walmart employer isn’t taking your concerns seriously, it may be time to hire a workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney will represent your best interests throughout the course of filing and appeals. Contact our law office, give us a call today at (713) 609-1897 and speak with one of our lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers.
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