On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | August 26, 2023 | Workers' Compensation
If you work in a restaurant, café, or any job in the food service industry in a grocery store, clothing store, department store, or any job in the retail industry, you are aware of the many accidents that can occur regularly. Retail and restaurant workers have an increased risk of suffering workplace injuries due to long work hours, unsafe working conditions, grueling physical requirements, and various hazards. This means that workers must exercise extra care to make sure they stay safe and unharmed.
But workplace accidents can occur no matter how careful you are. If you suffer a work-related injury, you may be eligible to receive payment through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Depending on your specific situation, you may receive any of these workers’ comp benefits:
- Medical benefits to cover all medical expenses for your work-related injury.
- Temporary total disability benefits (TTD) if you can’t work temporarily due to your injury.
- Temporary partial disability benefits (TPD) if you’re released on restricted duty.
- Impairment income benefits (IIB) until you reach max medical improvement (MMI) and have received an impairment rating.
- Permanent total disability benefits (PTD) if your injury renders you unable to work again.
- Death benefits
How Injured Retail and Restaurant Workers Can Secure Workers’ Compensation Insurance Benefits
You must report your work-related injury to your employer within 30 days of sustaining your injury or illness. But if your illness or injury developed gradually, you must report it within 30 days after you’ve established or discovered the link between your work duties and your injury or illness. It’s crucial to note, however, that you may lose all or a portion of your workers’ comp benefits if you don’t follow all the required reporting requirements and deadlines. Here’s what you can expect from the workers’ compensation process:
- You must include the following details in your report:
- How the accident or incident led to your injury or illness
- When and where exactly the accident occurred
- Your specific symptoms, no matter how minor or inconsequential they may seem
- You must seek medical attention from a doctor authorized by your employer’s workers’ comp insurer.
- Your employer must report your injury to their workers’ comp insurer within seven days of being notified of your injury. Talk to a Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation lawyer if they refuse to file your claim.
- You will begin receiving workers’ comp benefits if the insurance provider approves your claim. Otherwise, explore your legal options with a Port St. Lucie workers’ comp lawyer.
Reach Out to an Experienced Port St. Lucie Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
Do not let your fear of getting fired or getting penalized at work get in the way of seeking prompt medical attention and reporting your workplace injury. Keep in mind that employers cannot retaliate or fire you for reporting a workplace injury. Whether you need information about your workers’ compensation claim or want to appeal your claim, you can count on the Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation lawyer at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa for help.
Send us a message online or call 561-478-2500 to set up your free case evaluation with our Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation lawyer.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
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