Alabama Workers’ Comp for Walmart Employees Hurt on the Job

Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of supermarkets, discount department stores and grocery stores. It’s not only the nation’s largest grocery retailer but also the largest employer in the U.S., making it one of the world’s most profitable companies.

What are Walmart’s employment conditions like?

Despite this designation, Walmart has been increasingly scrutinized for its treatment of employees, and one area of concern is the high rate of injuries that occur at the retailer’s stores. Managers often expect unrealistically high output for little pay, and this pressure can leave employees more susceptible to accidents in the workplace.

In addition to low wages, Walmart employees often receive little or no health insurance and are unable to afford other necessities. This means that employees who are injured while working at Walmart are particularly likely to face financial difficulties.

Common types of injuries at Walmart

Walmart employees perform a variety of tasks that expose them to many potential workplace hazards. As a result, the types of workplace injuries sustained by Walmart employees vary greatly.

One of the most common types of accidents that occur in Walmart’s retail stores are slips, trips, and falls. Most of these accidents are caused by wet or uneven floors, cluttered aisles or improperly placed boxes and merchandise. In addition, employees who have to climb on ladders or shelves to retrieve items are at risk of falling and sustaining injuries.

Other common injuries include:

• Knee injuries due to prolonged standing, frequent bending, or lifting heavy items, which can put excessive stress on their knee joints
• Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive motions such as scanning items or stocking shelves
• Overexertion injuries that lead to neck, back and shoulder pain
• Head or body injuries from falling objects
• Crush injuries
• Injuries that result from forklift or truck accidents

Factors that lead to worker injuries at Walmart

Numerous factors contribute to injuries at Walmart, including:

• It employs a large number of workers, many of whom are not properly trained or experienced in safely performing their job duties.
• It often requires employees to work long hours with little rest, which can lead to fatigue and a greater risk of accidents—an issue that is especially dangerous in the case of commercial truck drivers.

These and other factors come together to create an environment in which employee injuries and resulting workers’ compensation claims are all too common at Walmart.

Alabama workers’ compensation rights

Most Walmart employees who are injured on the job are eligible to receive payment for the expenses they incur as a result of their workplace injury. This right is regulated under the Alabama workers’ compensation system, which is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job.

In Alabama, workers’ compensation is mandatory for most employers, including Walmart. Employees are entitled to receive benefits regardless of who was at fault for their injury, meaning that you don’t need to prove your employer was responsible for your injury to qualify for benefits.

Workers’ compensation benefits in Alabama

Workers’ compensation benefits for injured Walmart employees in Alabama can include:

• Reimbursement for medical expenses, including the cost of doctors’ visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and other medical treatments.
• Wage replacement to cover a portion of your average weekly wage while you’re recovering from your injury. Benefits are typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a maximum amount.
• Death benefits to provide financial support to surviving family members of an employee who dies as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
• Vocational rehabilitation to help injured workers regain the skills and training necessary to return to the workforce.

The amount of time an employee can receive workers’ compensation benefits depends on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of their injury or disability. Your attorney can explain how disability is determined and give you some idea of the benefits you should be able to receive based on your injury.

What to do if you were hurt on the job at Walmart

Being injured on the job can be a scary and confusing experience. If you’re a Walmart employee who’s been hurt on the job, there are a few things you should do to ensure that you receive the Walmart workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to:

1. Seek immediate medical attention so you’ll have documentation that the work accident was the direct cause of your injury. It’s important to see a doctor even if you’re initially not experiencing pain because pain doesn’t always surface right after an injury.
   Also, make sure to keep a copy of all of your medical records and bills because you’ll need them to submit a claim for benefits.
2. Report the accident to your supervisor as soon as possible. Be sure to get a written statement from your supervisor confirming that you reported the accident. In most cases, you only have 30 days to file a written report of your injury with your employer to qualify for compensation.
3. Contact an attorney who is well-versed in navigating Walmart workers’ compensation claims.

When to contact an Alabama Workers’ comp attorney

Workers’ compensation is a complex area of the law, and filing for workers’ comp benefits with Walmart is notoriously difficult. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Alabama can help you navigate the claims process and safeguard your rights to maximize your odds of getting the compensation you deserve.

At the Nomberg Law Firm, our experienced work injury attorneys are committed to helping workers in Alabama recover maximum compensation for their injuries. We offer free initial consultations, and we work on contingency—so you won’t pay a fee unless we win your case. Contact us today for your no-obligation consultation to see how we can help you.