Ecommerce giant Amazon has maintained its dominance in the hyper-competitive retail landscape largely through its robust network of last mile delivery partners. With Amazon Prime, subscribers can expect same day, next day, or at most two day delivery of almost any product listed on their site. Other competitors, like Walmart, Etsy, and Home Depot, have struggled to keep pace with Amazon's lightning-fast turnaround times.
The Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of labor unions, found that 5.9 out of every 100 warehouse workers at Amazon are seriously injured on the clock, according to BBC. What's more, SOC's study also found that not only are Amazon warehouse workers injured more frequently, they are injured more severely as well, an inference supported by Amazon workers' recovery periods. On average, Amazon warehouse workers who were injured on the job missed 46.3 days of work to recover from their injuries. Compared to the national average for warehouse workers, this figure is about a week longer.
If you or a loved one was injured in an Amazon warehouse accident, you likely are entitled to workers' compensation. To receive the support you deserve, you may benefit from seeking out legal representation. An experienced workers' compensation lawyer can make a difference. Please reach out to a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys associate to begin filing your workers's compensation claim.
How Do I Know If I Qualify for Workers' Compensation?
If you are a resident of Pennsylvania and were injured on the clock, then you qualify to receive workers' compensation benefits. The Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act outlines that nearly all workers– full-time, part-time, and seasonal– are entitled to receive benefits if they meet the above criteria. If you work in an Amazon fulfillment center, you are covered under this bill.
What Benefits Are Covered by Workers' Compensation?
If you were injured as a result of a workplace accident, try to remain calm. Although it is natural to worry about what impact your injury will have on your earning potential, thankfully workers' compensation laws exist to protect your financial interests.
Workers' compensation laws outline that if you are unable to work as a result of an injury sustained on the clock, that your wages will be protected. You can expect to receive up to two thirds of your weekly pay, or $1205.00 per week if your injury occurred on or after January 1st, 2022.
If your injury occurred before this date, your maximum payout may be different. Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor calculates the payout ceiling based on a number of different factors. Your actual compensation will depend on the severity of your injury; if you are completely unable to work, you will likely receive your full payout. If you are able to work, but your earning potential is reduced, your payout will be prorated against the maximum accordingly.
What Injuries are Covered Under Workers' Compensation Laws?
In an Amazon fulfillment center, workers deal with serious machinery, heavy loads, and tight deadlines. In fact, Amazon itself calls its warehouse workers “Industrial Athletes,” and prepares fulfillment personnel to walk up to 13 miles a day, or lift over 20,000 lbs by the end of their shifts (Washington Post). Such strenuous work often leads to herniated discs, muscle strains, bone fractures, ligament tears, concussions, or other types of injuries.
Although warehouse injuries are diverse, Pennsylvania law does not discriminate based on injury type. In short, any type of injury you sustain while working at an Amazon fulfillment center may qualify you to receive workers' compensation benefits. Even if you feel an injury is minor, you may be entitled to compensation.
Notably, COVID-19 is also covered under workers' compensation laws. If you contract COVID-19 while at work, you should continue to receive your wages even in isolation. If you have a special case of long COVID, and face lingering effects of the virus that prohibit you from working, you may also be entitled to workers' compensation.
What If I Was At Fault for My Injury?
While the law does not discriminate based on injury type, it does discriminate based on the circumstances leading up to your injury. If you are determined to have an active role in contributing to or causing your injury, you likely will not be covered under Pennsylvania workers' compensation laws.
More explicitly, if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you sustained your injury, if you were involved in a personal altercation which resulted in your injury, or your injury was an act of self harm, then you will not be entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits.
Unlike regular workers' compensation, specific losses that result in permanent disfigurement or lameness do not require you to be out of work for you to receive your compensation. That is, under specific loss laws, you will be compensated for the loss itself. In order to receive your aid, just have to show that the loss occurred as a result of your regular duties. Specific losses cover injuries that could result in the loss of a finger to the loss of a hand, or in more severe cases, even the loss of a limb. Under the schedule of specific loss payments, you will receive different amounts of compensation depending on your injury.
I believe I am qualified to receive workers' compensation benefits for an injury I sustained in an Amazon warehouse. Now what?
The first thing you must do to ensure you receive your benefits is report your injury to a supervisor if you have not already done so. Pennsylvania law outlines that in order to qualify for workers' compensation, you must report your injury within 120 days of it occurring. As a best practice, keep a personal copy of your injury report.
If your claim is approved, you can expect to start receiving your compensation within 21 days of reporting your incident. If your claim is denied, your interests would be best served by reaching out to an experienced workers' compensation lawyer. Our award-winning team of lawyers have the talent and experience necessary to help you navigate the claims process and litigate your case.
Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?
Our team at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys recognizes that navigating the benefits process while you are healing can be a very difficult task. Thankfully, our team is here to help you. With over 60 years of experience and a winning record of personal injury settlements, we have what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. Until we win your case, you owe us nothing. Reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Injured in the warehouse of another business?
As long as you were on the job, we can help you. Here are some examples:
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