New Jersey FedEx Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

FedEx, founded in 1971 by Fred Smith, started out under the name Federal Express, and is now a major player in the package delivery market and a direct competitor for United Parcel Service (UPS). Smith envisioned his global logistics company when he was attending Yale University. His unique concept proposed that one company be responsible for shipping cargo from the initial pick-up to the final delivery. That process meant operating its own planes, depots delivery vans and posting stations.

Although Smith first started his company in Little Rock, Arkansas, he moved to Memphis in 1973 and used 14 Dassault Falcon 20 jets to move parcels between 25 American cities. In the wake of deregulation of the airline industry in 1977, Federal Express purchased seven 727 airplanes, increased its profits and garnered 31,000 regular customers. FedEx now has a fleet of over 700 aircraft, and the company has continued to grow to over 450,000 workers.

FedEx and workers’ compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits for those employees that get hurt on the job. Workers may receive benefits if involved in a workplace accident and/or if they have been exposed to working conditions that cause illness, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or repetitive injury syndrome.

Workers’ compensation helps injured workers recover physically and financially. Benefits help cover lost wages and medical expenses incurred for treatment(s). If an accident leaves a worker permanently disabled, they may be eligible to obtain additional compensation.

If you, or someone you love, has been involved in a FedEx workplace accident or injured while on the job, then you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are specific guidelines for when an injury is covered under workers’ compensation.

New Jersey law lists the following requirement for qualifying for workers’ compensation benefits: the injury happened while the injured party was working, and the injury arose out of and in the course of their employment.

FedEx workplace hazards

Currently, FedEx has over 450,000 workers at 25 major distribution centers with packages being delivered in 220 countries via, sea, ground and air. Workers fill various positions, such as package handler, driver assistant, freight loader, freight unloader, warehouse handler, material handler and delivery driver.

Whether you work in a FedEx distribution center or make deliveries, you could be injured in any number of accidents at work. You could be injured while working beside conveyor belts or other machinery used to process packages. You could sustain back and joint injuries due to repetitive motions involved in loading and unloading heavy and oversized packages.

Even as a driver, you may also be injured from repetitive or heavy lifting as you hand out packages to customers. You could even be involved in a motor vehicle accident that can result in injuries ranging from broken bones, concussions, whiplash and fractures to amputations, back sprains, strains, brain injuries, and spinal, neck and back injuries.

New Jersey workers’ compensation laws differ from the laws of other states. However, these laws do have some things in common. They all offer benefits to injured workers to help them get through and recover compensation from a work-related injury accident. The accident does not have to be serious. Even minor accident injuries may qualify for benefits.

Filing for workers’ compensation benefits is not always easy to do. Be aware there is generally a requirement for those injured on-the-job to report the injury to their Supervisor as soon as possible and file a claim. If any of the deadlines mandated by the employer are missed, a claim may be automatically denied.

Knowing what is required to file a workers’ compensation claim, and what supporting documentation is required to file a claim, can be confusing. It is best to contact an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney from the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm right away. We are here to help you navigate the process, get the right paperwork filed and be your advocate along the way to obtaining fair and equitable compensation that you deserve.

Knee injuries at FedEx

There are a number of things you need to do if you have injured a knee while working at FedEx. They include:

• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible from an approved FedEx workers’ compensation doctor. If you do not see a doctor authorized by your company’s workers’ compensation carrier, you would be responsible for the cost of that treatment.
• In most instances, notify FedEx of your accident right away, either in writing or verbally, so that a claim can be opened on your behalf. If you fail to timely notify FedEx of your work injury, it can be a basis for denying your claim. When in doubt, ask your supervisor who you need to talk to and what you need to do.
• Document your accident and the injury in as much detail as possible for the accident report. Include names and contact information for any witnesses you may have.

Back injuries at FedEx

No matter what safety precautions are in place for FedEx workers, accidents still happen. Those accidents can result in severe, disabling injuries. A back injury could leave a worker unable to work for months.

It is no surprise that many FedEx workers have back problems, whether these injuries are due to hunching behind the steering wheel, lifting heavy objects or repeating the same motion over and over.

If you sustain a back injury while working at FedEx during the normal course of your work activities, report the accident as soon as possible and make sure you get a workers’ compensation claim started. Hire a Todd J. Leonard law firm workers’ compensation attorney to help you obtain the compensation you need.

Back injuries are common, with lower back injuries occurring most frequently. There are two main types of back injuries:

• Spondylolisthesis: This injury occurs when a vertebra slips at the base of the spine.
• Lower back injuries: Most often in the form of fractured vertebrae, strains, sprains, bulging or herniated discs. The pain and discomfort can originate from sore, pulled or torn tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The effects may be felt instantly or not manifest until later.

Pinched nerve injuries at FedEx

Pinched nerve injuries may be the result of persistent heavy lifting, standing or sitting in a restricted position for a number of hours, or a slip and fall, trip and fall accident.

Make sure to file a claim as soon as possible and provide all relevant documentation and information to the company’s approved doctor. However, there are many instances when employers deny workers’ compensation claims, even if you meet all the requirements. This is why you would need an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney to protect your rights.

Concussion injuries at FedEx

Concussions are also referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries, and are caused by blows to the head. This may happen if a package falls off a storage rack, a packer or handler falls from a ladder, a driver is involved in an accident on the road, a worker slips and falls on the job while delivering, or while working in the various FedEx warehouse locations. Workers’ compensation benefits can help you recover by paying medical expenses when you see a doctor from the approved list and by paying you 70 percent of your average weekly wage while you are unable to work.

Traumatic brain injuries are ranked from minor to severe, and each type has different symptoms that affect the worker. A FedEx worker who sustained a traumatic brain injury can be severely impaired. Some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury may include:

• Loss of memory
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Difficulty communicating
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty balancing
• Headaches

Prior to presenting your FedEx workers’ compensation claim, it is important to reach out and talk to an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney and find out what your legal rights are as an injured worker.

The Todd J. Leonard Law Firm has over 35 years of experience handling all types of serious personal injury accidents, including workers’ compensation claims. Todd J. Leonard is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, and has successfully handled all types of serious accidents, representing thousands of clients throughout New Jersey.

Our attorneys will fight for your rights, which includes getting the medical treatment you need, any wages you are legally owed, and compensation for your injuries. Additionally, our team of trial lawyers will be in contact with your employer’s insurance carrier to ensure you receive timely authorization for your medical treatment, and when you can return to work, if at all.

Our personal injury lawyers provide compassionate yet relentless personal injury representation, offering both exceptional service and proven results. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a claim for compensation, give us a call today at (973) 920-7900 to request a free and confidential consultation. There is never a fee unless we win. We have offices conveniently located in Denville, Morristown and Newark.