Every job carries risks. Even if you’re doing everything that you’re supposed to, you could end up being taken by surprise by a situation that leaves you injured. If you don’t believe us, just look at recent reports indicating that even retail work can pose a significant risk to employees.
But the risks associated with retail work aren’t evenly distributed. In fact, a recent study released by the CDC shows that those who are under the age of 25 are at a greater risk of being injured in this line of work. It’s estimated that about 100,000 individuals between the age of 16 and 24 miss work after being injured on the job, and one study found that 23,000 workers are injured each year in the retail industry.
How do these workplace injuries occur?
There are a number of contributing factors to retail sector injuries. Far too many young workers in this industry receive insufficient training, for example, which leaves them without the knowledge that they need to avoid injurious situations. Additionally, since these individuals are less experienced, they oftentimes don’t know what questions they need to ask in order to keep themselves safe.
Overall, retail workers are susceptible to each of the following:
- Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries
- Improper lifting that can lead to back and neck injuries, as well as sprains and strains
- Impact injuries caused by falling objects or being crushed between objects
- Slips and trips caused by wet floors, bunched rugs and carpeting, and clutter that cause injurious falls
- Cuts caused by box cutters and other sharp objects
- Workplace violence caused by angry co-workers and customers
There are other ways that injuries can be suffered, any of which could leave you with the need for medical care and an inability to work and earn a wage.
What should you do if you’ve been injured while working retail?
If your injuries are so significant that you can’t work, then you may want to consider seeking workers’ compensation benefits. If you’re successful on your claim, then you’ll receive periodic payments that will help offset your lost wages and cover your medical expenses.
But these benefits won’t automatically be granted to you. On the contrary, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer will probably look for ways to deny your workers’ compensation claim. They might argue that your injury was caused by roughhousing at work or that your injury was caused by some other non-work activity. And they may try to claim that your injuries aren’t so significant that you need to miss work.
This is why you need to be prepared to push back and present evidence that speaks to the legal elements at hand. If you don’t, then you could be putting yourself at risk of missing out on the compensation that you really need as you focus on your recovery and getting back to work.
Legal help is here if you need it
Navigating the workers’ compensation process can be daunting. And you don’t want to put yourself at risk of losing out on the support that you need and deserve. That’s why a lot of injured workers, including those from the retail sector, often turn to an experienced legal professional for help.
By doing so, you could increase your chances of successfully recovering workers’ compensation benefits. Therefore, if you want to learn more about what an attorney can do to support you, then you might want to continue reading our website and reach out to a legal team to discuss the specifics of your case.
