What You Need to Know if You Were Hurt as a Lowe’s Employee

In most situations, if you have been hurt at work, you will qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.  These benefits help you deal with expensive medical care and provide you with weekly payments that cover a portion of your wages while you recover from your work injury.  Unfortunately, some employers will try to ignore your requests for benefits even though you have a legitimate work injury.  In those situations, you need a Georgia workers’ compensation attorney to help you with your claim. 

Even though workers’ compensation claims may seems straightforward, don’t just assume you’ll get compensated appropriately. Insurance companies are never on your side and Lowe’s won’t help you either. Get the assistance you need as soon as possible, especially if you don’t have any legal experience or experience handling workers’ compensation claims. 

When Would I Be Entitled to Workers’ Compensation?

You must meet specific qualifications to get workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia.  These include:

• Be an employee of the employer  instead of an independent contractor or consultant. Most people who work for Lowe’s are hired as employees
• Most employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and Lowe’s is definitely one of the companies that are required to have workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.
• You got hurt at work or while doing work activities or you contracted an illness because of work

Because Lowe’s is a home improvement store, many of its employees are required to lift and carry heavy objects on a regular basis.  That type of activity frequently leads to strains that can have long-term adverse effects on your life and may even inhibit your ability to work on the future. 

Additional injuries may include things like:

• Being involved in a car accident while making deliveries
• Falling from ladders or high stocking areas
• Loading and unloading delivery trucks
• Slipping and falling on the floor in your work area
• Repetitive movement that leads to joint damage (especially in the hands, elbows, and shoulders)

Regardless of your injuries, as long as you sustained damages from them while on the job, our lawyers can help you get financially compensated. 

How Do I Get Medical Benefits for my Workers’ Compensation Case?

Perhaps the most important benefit in any workers’ compensation case is medical care.  Lowe’s will pay for your visit to the doctor to help you address any injuries related to your work injury at no cost to you.  But, you must follow very specific steps to get this valuable benefit. 

One of the first things that you must do is report your accident or injury to your employer.  You can often do this by talking to your Lowe’s supervisor or shift manager.  Be sure to notify your manager within 30 days of the accident or you may not be able to get workers’ comp benefits.  If it’s an emergency, however, you should get help right away—your employer will cover emergency care no matter who you see. 

Otherwise, check with Lowe’s to look for a list of pre-approved doctors in your area.  They will often put this information in the break room or in another central location.  If you can’t find this information, ask your supervisor for help.  There should be at least six doctors for you to choose from, and one of those must be an orthopedic surgeon.  Start with one of the listed doctors (an authorized treating physician), even if you might need a specialist.  Your authorized treating physician will be able to give you a referral to a specialist so that Lowe’s still pays for medical care.

How Much Will Lowe’s Pay In a Settlement?

First of all, Lowe’s itself won’t be the ones paying for your settlement. Their workers’ compensation insurance will be handling all of the financial requests. How much you will get paid in your settlement depends on how many damages you sustained, how severe they are, and what kind of evidence you bring forth. You can typically get compensated for several damages such as: 

• Medical expenses
• Temporary or permanent disability 
• Lost wages and reduced earning capability 
• Loss of job 

Keep in mind, workers’ compensation won’t cover damages such as pain and suffering. There may be certain exceptions and ways around this, but not all cases will have the ability to do so. 

Statute of Limitations for Workers’ Comp Cases in Georgia 

Regular personal injury claims have a statute of limitations of two years. For workers’ compensation claims, you only have half that. The state of Georgia only gives you one year to file a claim. While filing blindly and recklessly isn’t t a good idea, that doesn’t mean you should wait too long either. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to get fairly compensated for your damages. Don’t delay in building a strong case for your claim. 

Get Help with Your Workers’ Comp Case

Keep in mind that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits right away when you start your job,  regardless of whether you are working full time or part-time.  John Foy & Associates has over 20 years of experience helping workers get the medical care and other workers’ compensation benefits that they deserve.  Let us help you too. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment for a free consultation by calling us or filling out our online contact form. Our team is available to help you 24/7.