Long Beach Amazon Workplace Injuriy Lawyer

Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer by far and employs over a third of all warehouse workers. Yet, despite their recent efforts to decrease worker accidents, their facilities still account for over half of all warehouse injuries across the industry.

Everyone has a right to a safe working environment, and every workplace should make worker safety the highest priority. Unfortunately, workplace injuries continue to occur at an alarming rate. Anyone who has suffered a personal injury while working at Amazon should understand their rights. By partnering with a qualified and experienced Amazon workplace injury attorney, you can understand your rights and pursue fair and just compensation for all damages suffered.

Amazon Workplace Injury Attorney in Long Beach, CA

The team at Pratt Law Corporation has been managing work injury claims for clients in and around the Long Beach area for more than 60 years collectively, helping them to secure their maximum legal benefits. For most clients, this is often much more than they initially expected. Our familiarity with and extensive knowledge of workplace injury law and workers’ compensation enables us to understand what to demand when it comes to fair, just, and exhaustive compensation.

We take the time to work through the details of each case with our clients, guiding them through the legal process in their recovery efforts. Our team is ready to provide you with dedicated and skilled representation in your workplace injury claim. While every case is unique, we have specific experience handling worker injury cases occurring at Amazon facilities and can approach these cases with proven strategies developed over many similar cases.

What Are the Workers’ Compensation Laws in California?

California’s workers’ compensation laws are in place to protect workers, ensuring their losses are covered in the event of a workplace accident. California requires all employers to carry this type of insurance. Most Long Beach employers promptly process workers’ compensation claims in good faith. However, in many circumstances, employees can experience difficulty processing their claims.

Any worker who suffers an injury or illness while working or performing occupational duties is entitled to file for recovery of damages through Amazon’s insurance plan. Workers can, unfortunately, encounter obstacles with either their employer or with their employer’s insurance company, even though it is within every worker’s right to seek financial benefits following a work-related injury or illness.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries at Amazon?

Amazon employees who work at one of their many warehouses, also known as fulfillment centers, are used to a high-pressure and fast-paced environment. The expectations and demands of the job require employees to work quickly and efficiently in order to sustain the incredible volume of orders that come through the fulfillment centers. However, the burdening nature of these expectations can quickly breed an environment that is particularly prone to accidents that lead to injury. Some of the most common accidents and their resulting injuries for which Amazon workers are at risk include:

• Slip, trip, and fall. Unsafe work environments, such as cluttered work areas, uneven surfaces, and slippery floors, can lead to falls that result in serious injury. Additionally, normal environments that include dangerous tasks, such as climbing ladders, using high step stools, and moving shelves, also present similar risks of slipping, tripping, or falling.Resulting injuries include fractures, contusions, sprains, and traumatic head injuries.
• Falling objects. Objects that fall or otherwise fly through the air, such as boxes, crates, pallets, packages, merchandise, or equipment, can cause serious injury if a worker is struck or crushed.Resulting injuries include contusions, concussions, head trauma, fractures, or lacerations.
• Repetitive motion injuries. Overexertion injuries, such as those caused by repetitively lifting heavy objects, bending repetitively, or carrying heavy items for extended periods of time, can cause significant pain and chronic issues and require rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, and extended periods of rest in order to recover.Resulting injuries include muscle strains, sprains, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.
• Forklift accidents. Warehouses commonly use forklifts as a regular part of operations in order to maneuver and handle large stacks and heavy objects. However, improper training of this quick, heavy, and sharp machinery can easily lead to severe accidents.Resulting injuries include fractures, contusions, crush injuries, spinal cord injuries, stab wounds, and fatalities.
• Hazardous materials. Warehouses have certain products and chemical substances on the premises for emergency preparation, clearing agents, and work purposes. Wrongful exposure to such products can lead to either illness or physical complications.Resulting injuries include burns, respiratory issues, poisoning, and eye damage.

Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most serious types of injuries occurring in Amazon fulfillment centers. Being struck in the head by objects from falls or slips can lead to a wide range of serious concerns, including potentially permanent disabilities. Even those symptoms that aren’t permanent can nevertheless persist for many years.

It is vital that you seek immediate medical attention if you have suffered any kind of injury in the workplace. You should then speak with an accident attorney as soon as possible for help filing a claim. It is important that you seek full and complete compensation for your injuries.

What Is the Injury Rate for Amazon Warehouse Workers?

Despite their contributions to the economy in providing job opportunities and services and making goods more easily available, Amazon has presented workers with an extremely high potential for personal injuries. In fact, Amazon’s workplace injury rate was double that of all other warehouses, hovering around 6.8% for the last several years. This means that nearly seven out of every 100 workers will experience a workplace injury while working at one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers.

California is a major market for Amazon, boasting the highest number of Amazon fulfillment centers compared to any other state. In fact, Bakersfield, Beaumont, Eastvale, Fresno, Moreno Valley, Rialto, and San Bernardino all contain massive facilities with several thousands of employees each. Unsurprisingly, California workers then experience the highest number of workplace accidents and injuries throughout the company.

What is surprising, however, is the extent to which California fulfillment center statistics for injuries surpass the rest of the country. Recent reports show that more than 70% of the state’s fulfillment centers experience an injury rate that exceeds 7.9 cases/100 workers, with about 90% of those injuries requiring the worker to cease working entirely or otherwise switch jobs.

What Happens if You Get Injured at Amazon?

Getting injured at a workplace or while performing work-related tasks is an extremely unfortunate but protected activity for which you should be legally covered in the event of an accident. If you get injured, you will begin the process of filing a claim with your employer’s insurance for a workers’ compensation benefits claim.

In order to properly do so, it is important that you follow several important steps:

1. Inform your supervisor of the accident. It is vital that you first report the injury to the supervising manager on shift when it happens if you are able. The official accident report will be necessary and important later when you and your attorney build your case.
2. Seek medical attention. After presumably informing your supervisor of the accident, it is essential that you immediately seek medical attention for your injuries. Depending on the perceived severity, you may either consult the medical professional on-site—provided there is one—or seek emergency services. Keep a copy of any medical records associated with the accident.
3. Contact a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer. It is highly recommended that you choose and partner with a knowledgeable and qualified workers’ compensation lawyer to secure representation as you begin to navigate both the claims process and any future necessary litigation. The right attorney can review your case, guide you through the proceedings, and ensure a comprehensive and complete compensation settlement.
4. File an official report. The next step is to file a claim with your employer’s insurance company. The accident report should include all related details about the incident, including details like the time, date, and location of the incident. Including as much detail as possible will help avoid any potential holes in the story or gaps in information, which could otherwise slow down your claim’s progress.

How Do I Report Work-Related Injuries to Amazon?

To report work-related injuries to Amazon, you should file an official claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Before doing so, it is good to inform your boss that you will be filing for benefits, as they should offer assistance and partner with you. Communicating your intentions clearly from the outset can help avoid giving wrong impressions or provoking retaliatory actions from your employer.

Workers’ compensation represents a legal right that is offered for the employee’s benefit and is not a litigious act, meaning you are not suing your employer by filing a workers’ compensation claim. In fact, filing a workers’ compensation claim works just like filing any other insurance claim. The biggest difference is that you will be involving your employer.

When filing the claim, make sure you include the following:

• What specific injuries or damages you suffered
• How the accident or incident occurred
• How the damages have impacted your life
• Any other additional information, as requested by the insurance company

What Will Workers’ Compensation Cover?

Once you’ve filed a claim for benefits, the insurance company will review your case, gather some follow-up information, and then award a settlement. Provided things run smoothly up to this point, your final workers’ compensation award should be enough to cover the following items:

• Medical expenses. All medical expenses related to the qualifying work-related injury(s) should be covered by the policy. This includes emergency care, hospital stays, medical procedures, surgeries, and medication.
• Lost wages. The vast majority of injuries result in time out of work for recovery. Workers’ compensation will cover a percentage of the total income not earned as a result of the time away from work. In cases of more serious injury, this amount may include loss of earning capacity if the injury prevents the employee from returning to the same kind of work for the long term.
• Ongoing care. Some injuries continue to require medical treatment, intervention, medication, or therapy. Your claim settlement should also include adequate compensation to cover future medical needs related to the workplace injury. Physical and occupational therapy, ongoing prescription costs, and long-term equipment needs, such as wheelchairs, would be considered ongoing care.
• Funeral costs. In the case of a wrongful death, whereby the employee has passed away as a result of the accident or injuries, workers’ compensation should cover all funeral costs, including interment and burial costs, service fees, and other associated costs.

In many cases, your workers’ compensation claim should cover all damages incurred as a result of the workplace accident. However, there are cases in which one or more parties involved may be unwilling to take responsibility for the damages. If this is the case, it is important that you work with a qualified workplace accident attorney who can help ensure that all parties uphold their responsibility to cover your damages.

Can I Sue Amazon for a Work Injury?

If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, California law requires you to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, as it is the exclusive legal remedy for workplace injuries. This means that you cannot sue Amazon for injury under normal circumstances, as they are exempt from liability. However, there are a few exceptions that may apply under certain circumstances.

You may opt to sue Amazon and pursue a personal injury claim instead of a workers’ compensation claim if Amazon:

• Intentionally caused the injury
• Committed fraud in concealing the injury or its role in the accident
• Hurt you in a manner outside of an employer/employee relationship

You may also sue for damages if your employer did not carry workers’ compensation insurance at the time of the accident. Under any of these circumstances, Amazon would have acted illegally, entitling you to pursue damages outside of the standard process. If you believe your employer is guilty of tort or have questions about how your case qualifies for pursuing compensation, talk with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can review your specific case details and advise you regarding the proper next steps.

Can I Pursue a Personal Injury Claim Against a Third Party?

While you may not be able to sue Amazon for a workplace injury in most cases, you may still be able to enhance your workers’ compensation claim with a personal injury claim against an at-fault third party to receive additional compensation. Many accidents in the workplace are the result of some party’s negligence. Incurring damages as the result of someone else’s negligence in the workplace entitles you to seek additional compensation.

For example, if you are injured by a forklift while working at an Amazon fulfillment center, Amazon’s workers’ compensation insurance will cover the damages. However, if the accident happened because another employee was acting negligently or irresponsibly, such as driving the forklift in an unauthorized zone, you could pursue a claim against the at-fault employee.

This situation is common for Amazon delivery drivers who are involved in auto accidents during work hours. A driver who is hurt in an accident that was the fault of the other driver, for example, is entitled to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim with their employer for experiencing the accident while performing work duties, as well as a personal injury claim against the at-fault party for incurring injury as the result of negligence.

The following are common examples of third parties that could potentially be held responsible for a workplace accident besides Amazon:

• A coworker
• A supervisor
• A customer or employer client
• The worksite property owner
• One of Amazon’s vendors

Having an accident occur on the job, at the workplace, or while performing work-related duties does not exempt you from pursuing additional compensation to which you are entitled against an at-fault party. If you believe another party may also be at fault for an accident, speak with your attorney to discuss possible claim options.

How Much Does a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Cost?

Most accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and will only collect legal fees in the event they win you a settlement. They will then take an agreed-upon percentage out of the award amount.

This fee structure allows anyone to contact and hire an attorney to represent them in their workplace injury case, as there is no cost barrier to entry. If, after discussing your case with your lawyer, it becomes apparent that a personal injury claim is necessary rather than a workers’ compensation claim, the fee structure will remain the same, and you will still not owe anything before continuing. The billing policy at Pratt Law Corporation ensures that qualified and experienced legal counsel is both accessible and affordable to anyone needing the legal help of a skilled attorney.

Amazon continues to dominate the warehouse industry in providing work opportunities and setting the pace for delivering goods and services in record time. However, this dominance has come at a cost to the health and safety of its employees. If you have experienced a workplace injury while working at Amazon, whether as a delivery driver or at one of their many fulfillment centers, speak with a member of our team today. The attorneys at Pratt Law Corporation are ready to fight on your behalf to secure full compensation for your damages. Contact our office today to get started.