Even with safety measures in place, warehouses are dangerous work environments. There are more than 800,000 warehouse workers in the United States with tens of thousands of accidents reported each year. Slip and fall accidents and forklift accidents account for most warehouse injuries but workers may also be hurt when they are struck by an object, crushed between objects, or even electrocuted.
Have you been injured in a workplace accident in a warehouse or an Amazon fulfillment center? A Florida workers’ compensation lawyer at Work Injury Rights can help you file your claim and fight for the benefits you deserve. Contact us today at 954-833-5226 for a free consultation.
Common Warehouse Accidents in Florida
Warehouse workers have one of the highest injury rates among private industries in the United States. In 2018, there were 4.5 reportable injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time warehouse workers. It’s estimated that 1 out of every 20 warehouse workers is injured in a warehouse incident every year.
Warehouse accidents and health conditions are often the result of one of the following:
- Forklift accidents cause about 100,000 injuries every year.
- Hazardous materials can cause respiratory problems and burns.
- Slip and fall accidents are responsible for about 25% of warehouse accidents.
- Electrocution
- Respiratory injury due to improper ventilation
- Back injuries from heavy or repetitive lifting
- Spinal cord injuries due to falls or crush injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Injuries from falling objects.
Amazon Warehouse Injuries Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Amazon warehouse injuries continue to rise every year since 2016. There are those who supposedly pass out, due to overheating while spending hours standing, crouching, and walking around the upper floors of extremely hot, non-climate-controlled warehouses.
As Amazon operates multiple fulfillment centers in Florida, our work injury lawyers are here to help you or your loved one. For more information about if you qualify for workers’ compensation, contact our experienced lawyers today.
Amazon Warehouse High Injury Rates Reported
According to the official figures, Amazon, which operates dozens of warehouses around the country, had a serious injury rate of 7.7 per 100 employees in 2019. That added up to over 14,000 injuries nationwide. The average injury rate for companies that are equivalent to Amazon is nearly half that amount, or 7,000 overall and 3.5 injuries per every 100 employees.
So, the question is why does Amazon have such high injury rates? This powerhouse company is known for insisting that warehouse employees work at an extremely fast rate of speed. They only have so many minutes to find the next item on their scan gun, forcing them to move quickly.
This, as well as the work, which involves a lot of crouching, stretching, and reaching repeatedly throughout a 12-hour shift, tends to lead to plenty of sprains, strains, and other overuse or repetitive motion injuries.
If you have been injured at one of Amazon’s facilities in Florida, contact WorkInjuryRights.com for a free consultation.
Filing Workers’ Compensation Claims for Amazon Warehouse Injuries
Employers are often responsible for injuries that happen on the job, and Amazon is no exception. If an Amazon warehouse worker slips and falls on a wet floor that has no caution sign, breaking their leg in the process, then the company may be liable for their lost salary and medical bills.
Other injuries, like sprains and strains caused by repetitive motions, such as crouching or reaching into bins to retrieve and process purchases, tend to be harder to prove, but this is not an impossible task when you seek the legal guidance of an experienced lawyer. Call 954-833-5226 today for a free consultation.
Warehouse Accidents and Workers’ Compensation
Warehouse workers who are injured in an accident may face serious and life-changing injuries. You may be left unable to work for weeks, months, or even permanently. You may live with chronic pain and reduced quality of life, even after invasive treatments. When your injury occurs at the workplace or is work-related, the Florida workers’ compensation system is designed to provide benefits to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.
Workers’ compensation can cover all reasonable medical costs associated with your accident and provide lost wage benefits while you are unable to work or if you can only work part-time. Unfortunately, getting the benefits you are entitled to receive can be challenging. Your employer and their insurance carrier may offer a lowball settlement or deny your valid claim.
They may argue that your injury is pre-existing, is not as severe as you claim, or that you are well enough to return to work. To make matters more complicated, Florida workers’ compensation law does not allow you to choose your own doctor: they will be chosen by your employer or their insurance company.
When you are facing serious injuries after a warehouse accident, you deserve an advocate on your side to help you through every stage of the claims process. At Work Injury Rights, we represent injured workers in fighting for the fair benefits they deserve. We will investigate your accident and gather evidence to support how the accident occurred and the severity of your injuries. If your claim is denied, we will also represent you in a hearing to present your case.
Warehouse Accident FAQs
I Amputated a Finger While Working in a Factory. How Can Workers’ Compensation Help Me?
If you suffered an amputation while on the job, first ensure that your employer has already filed a workers’ compensation claim. You should then be contacted by Workers’ Compensation. Ensure all your injuries have been thoroughly documented, such as when/how it happened and that the injury occurred at work.
Your benefits will assist in covering any medical expenses, time off, or disability. Workers’ compensation may require you to undergo other medical evaluations to establish your work capabilities. It is best to contact our workers’ compensation lawyers today to see if you could potentially qualify for other eligible benefits and ensure you are accurately advocated for.
What Are Common Warehouse Injuries?
Common warehouse injuries include working with hazardous materials, electrocution, respiratory issues, back injuries, falls, slips, and machinery accidents (such as forklift injuries). Repetitive trauma accidents are also common, which includes things such as carpal tunnel from typing often or shoulder injuries. Since warehouses often include labor-intense work, it is common for items to fall from shelves or for workers to pull muscles.
Amazon warehouse injuries have been on a sharp rise since 2016. Workers in Amazon facilities struggle from overheating and suffer injuries as a consequence with an injury rate of 7.7 per 100 employees. If you have suffered an injury on the job, be sure to immediately report it to your supervisor, as you may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation, then follow up with one of our warehouse injury lawyers.
Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation If I Was Not Wearing My Hard Hat and Suffered an Injury?
Florida has a no-fault workers’ compensation system. This means blame is not distributed to either the employee or the employer. If your employer has workers’ compensation coverage, you should be able to receive benefits that will cover your medical expenses, wage loss, rehabilitation, disability, or other related costs.
Beware of employers placing blame on you for not wearing protective equipment. Regardless of wearing a helmet, no-fault entitles you to benefits, and they may be trying to avoid filing a claim or paying benefits. For a free consultation, call us today at 954-833-5226.
Contact Work Injury Rights for a Free Consultation
Are you struggling with injuries after a warehouse accident? You do not need to go up against your employer and their insurance carrier alone. At Work Injury Rights, we have more than 45 years of combined experience fighting for compensation for our clients. We work on a contingency-fee-basis which means you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement or verdict for you. Contact us today at 954-833-5226 to schedule your free initial consultation with a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer.
