Helping injured warehouse workers in Philadelphia get the compensation they deserve
Warehouses are essential to keeping US businesses running. Grocery store chains, furniture and home improvement, food and beverage, pet food, pharmaceutical companies, e-commerce, and global retail giants all rely on warehouse workers to safely and efficiently store, move, receive, and ship their goods.
Philadelphia is located on the busy I-95 trucking corridor, having access to an international airport, rail service, and with one of the largest shipping ports in the country, the Port of Philadelphia, Philly is a popular location for businesses seeking to build private warehouses or to rent space and hire help with existing warehousing operations.
Warehouses are the perfect environment for work accidents and injuries. According to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the warehouse and transportation sector is one of the most dangerous industries for workers in the country.
Warehouse accidents can devastate workers and their families. If you have been injured in a warehouse accident in Philadelphia, find your experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law today. We have been representing Pennsylvania workers for more than 60 years.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Philadelphia Warehouse Accidents?
It is mandated by Pennsylvania law that all PA workers regardless of their status as full or part-time or seasonal can be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault.
Warehouse work can be a fast-paced and high-pressure job and there are potential hazards around every corner. Warehouse injuries can be severe and even fatal.
Some of the most common types of warehouse accidents are:
- Forklift accidents; being struck by forklifts, falling from forklifts, forklift crashes
- Failure to follow lockout and tagout procedures
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Injuries from overexertion from moving heavy objects
- Being struck by falling unsecured items
- Being hit by trucks in the loading docks and unloading areas
- Being stuck between or crushed by heavy items
- Chemical spills and other chemical exposure
- Electrocution
- Failure of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- The collapse of pallet rack systems
- Fires and explosions
- Equipment malfunctions such as conveyer belt jams
What Are the Most Common Warehouse Injuries?
Workers in Philadelphia warehouses face the possibility of many serious injuries either due to a workplace accident, repetitive motion, or stress injuries such as carpal tunnel or long-term occupational diseases from exposure to chemicals and other hazardous substances.
In this dangerous environment, Philly warehouse workers can suffer injuries including:
- Back sprains and strains and muscle tears from overexertion and overwork
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from falls and being struck by objects
- Injuries resulting from being crushed beneath or between objects such as amputation
- Head and neck injuries, including TBI from slips, trips, and falls
- Broken bones from slips, trips, and falls.
- Electrocution
- Chemical burns
- Repetitive motion injuries from repeated stress and strain and poor ergonomics
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Herniated disks
- Burn injuries
- Disease and illness due to exposure to toxic substances
- Spinal cord injuries resulting from falls, being crushed, and by mechanical malfunctions
- Skin disorders
- Respiratory issues<
- Hearing and vision loss
If you are a Philly warehouse worker who has been hurt at work, you have a right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Call the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers at Munley Law now for a FREE case evaluation for your workman’s compensation case. You can also email us or chat online. A member of our work accident injury team will get back to you right away.
Who Can Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
According to the PA Department of Labor and Industry, workers’ comp coverage is mandatory for most employers under Pennsylvania law. Employers who do not have workers’ compensation coverage may be subject to lawsuits by employees and criminal prosecution under Pennsylvania state law.
If you were hurt on the job, you have the right to workers’ compensation regardless of your status as a full-time or part-time, or seasonal worker, starting from your first day of employment.
What Qualifies as a Compensable Work Injury?
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, 77 P.S. §411(1). states that the only requirement to qualify work-related injuries is that the condition must be related to the worker’s employment and job duties.
Injuries resulting from workplace accidents and incidents as well as pre-existing conditions that are aggravated during the scope of regular job duties and also disease or illness resulting from or aggravated by workplace conditions are covered by workers’ compensation benefits.
How Can Our Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Help?
Warehouse work is dangerous. Even with decades of fighting for better and safer working conditions, scheduled breaks, and more oversight, workers in American warehouses still face daily hazards.
Whether you are a forklift operator, doing heavy and repetitive lifting and twisting unloading or loading trucks, stacking merchandise. operating pallet jacks, working a fast-moving conveyer belt, picking, packing, operating machines, or any other warehouse job title, you deserve the safety net of knowing that if you need them, you will be able to rely on the financial assistance provided by workers’ compensation benefits.
Typically, warehouse workers work quickly, often under time crunches, deadlines, and the pressures of last-minute fulfillment requests often while performing physically repetitive and strenuous tasks.
When you are under a deadline, working fast, and doing the same task over and over, this is a recipe for accidents.
When equipment breaks down and causes delays, not only do workers now face having to somehow compensate for that lost time but also have to now troubleshoot and repair it on the fly; workers can get their heads, hands, and other body parts stuck or damaged while trying to fix mechanical problems.
If you have been hurt at work in an accident at work, you need to know that your medical bills and other financial losses will be covered.
What Will My Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover?
Injured workers suffer not only the physical pain from their injury or illness but also the anxiety of missed paychecks and mounting medical expenses.
Workers’ compensation is there to protect warehouse employees. Workers comp insurance will cover not only medical bills incurred by injured employees but also will provide some partial coverage for lost wages due to the injury or occupational disease.
Pennsylvania workers’ compensation is a state-mandated financial safety net that will cover medical expenses, including your diagnosis and treatment of your work-related injury or illness. It also can pay out wage loss benefits also temporary disability payments while you recover and are you are unable to work.
Know your rights as an employee
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act legally requires all employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Most employers purchase their insurance through an insurance company.
Unfortunately, some Pennsylvania warehouse employers try to save money on their insurance premiums by illegally misclassifying warehouse workers as independent contractors.
Intentionally misclassifying employees as contractors helps these employers also avoid paying overtime hours. This is illegal.
If you are a warehouse employee and your employer has misclassified you as an independent contractor, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law immediately. You have the right as an employee to the financial coverage provided by Pennsylvania workers’ compensation insurance.
How Much Will a Worker’s Comp Attorney Cost?
Your consultation is free and your workers’ compensation attorney at Munley Law will not charge you a penny until your benefits are received.
We are here to help. Contact us now for a FREE case evaluation for your workman’s compensation case. Call us today or email us or chat with us online. A member of our work accident injury team will get back to you right away.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747
