With a large number of employees in New Jersey grocery stores, it is probable an accident can happen at work. If you were injured while working at a New Jersey grocery store, call the experienced Camden County workers’ compensation attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg Law at 856.249.9288. We strive to hold grocery store employers accountable in Camden County.

New Jersey Law Relating to Injuries at Work

In New Jersey, all employers are mandated to have workers’ compensation coverage or to be approved for self-insurance. If an employer deliberately does not provide workers’ compensation, it is a fourth-degree crime.

Penalties may range from $5,000 for the first ten days and up to $5,000 for every additional ten-day period once informed that workers’ compensation is mandatory.

If work-related injuries or deaths occur in the workplace, the employer and other company officials are responsible for medical costs, temporary and permanent disability, or dependency benefits. 

At Petrillo & Goldberg Law, we explain the law and discuss your case in great detail so you are aware of your legal rights and have enough information to make informed decisions.

Common Injuries Grocery Store Workers Sustain

Grocery store workers handle and use thousands of items every day while loading and unloading trailers, slicing produce for display or fresh meals, trimming meat, preparing daily bakery items, breaking down pallets and moving them around in the back, or bagging groceries for customers. Three of the top ten causes of workplace injuries in stores in Camden County include overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily reaction.

Camden County grocery store workers face numerous hazards while working. Those hazards may include:

• Eye injuries – being hit in the eyes by flying pieces of material or splashes caused by dropping food into a deep fryer
• Burns and/or cuts – Camden County grocery store workers use various tools, such as forklifts, box cutters, saws, hydraulic jacks, and saws.
• Standing – standing all day can result in back and neck pain, muscle fatigue, swollen legs, and shoulder issues. 
• Electrocution – it only takes one short circuit to electrocute a Camden County grocery store worker.
• Shoulder injuries – rotator cuff injuries, torn tendons, lacerated muscles resulting from moving heavy products, and overreaching.
• Epicondylitis – elbow issues resulting from constant lifting, moving, reaching, and stacking.
• Neck and back pain – from repetitively reaching overhead to stock shelves.
• Spinal cord injuries – if a heavy load of produce on a pallet lands on someone, they may face paralysis or life-altering injuries.
• Strained muscles – from lifting, shifting, pulling, and stacking.
• Slip, trip, and falls – slipping in liquids, produce, or other unexpected objects in store aisles or out in the back loading and unloading zone.
• Falling objects – any storefront shelves or backroom shelving can be incorrectly stacked and fall.
• Broken bones, fractures – from tripping and falling.
• Concussions, traumatic brain injuries – from falling off a ladder, slipping on wet floors, or tripping on uneven flooring.

Grocery store workers’ jobs involve a high-level physical activity that may result in an accident at work. It only takes a split second for an accident to happen. 

Holding Grocery Store Employers Accountable in Camden County

If you have been in an accident while working at a grocery store in Camden County, you are entitled to file for Workers’ Compensation benefits. It is the law in New Jersey that all employers must provide workers’ compensation.

Remember, if you are involved in an accident at a Camden County grocery store while on the job, you must notify your employer immediately. The time limit for notifying the employer is within the first 90 days of the accident. Do not wait to file notice. The longer you wait, the easier it is for the employer and Workers’ Compensation to possibly deny your claim. 

Always provide a written notification versus a verbal notification. Make sure to keep a copy of the written notice that was submitted to the employer outlining in detail your injury, including the time, date, location, and a summation of the injuries, if possible.

Having a paper trail that verifies the employer received your notice of injury and all other steps following it, such as medical treatment, provides you with greater leverage later should there be any hitches in the claims process. 

Filing a workers’ compensation claim, for the most part, does go smoothly. However, workers’ compensation is complicated, and we strongly advise reaching out to Petrillo & Goldberg Law to find out your legal rights as an injured Camden County grocery store worker. At Petrillo & Goldberg Law, we have extensive experience in holding grocery store employers accountable in Camden County for accidents that happened on the job.

Contact the Experienced Camden County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Petrillo & Goldberg Now!

If you were injured in a workplace accident at a Camden County grocery store, this is a difficult time for you and your family. We understand and are here to assist you in filing your workers’ compensation claim to ensure you have the benefits you need. We are skilled at holding grocery store employers accountable in Camden County if you have been injured at work. Contact us at 856.249.9288.