BJ’s Wholesale Club Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc., more commonly known as BJ’s, is a membership-only warehouse club chain based in Westborough, Massachusetts. As of 2020, BJ’s clubs are present in 17 states and have 25,000 team members, part and full time. BJ’s significant competitors are Sam’s Club and Costco Wholesale.  BJ’s owns a 634,000 square foot facility in Burlington, New Jersey. 

As a BJ’s employee, it’s essential to understand your rights. You may be wondering, what are the next steps if I get injured at work? Who is responsible for paying my medical bills? How much time do I have not to work, yet still get paid? What are my deadlines for filing a workers’ compensation claim?  Do you know how and when to file a workers’ compensation claim?

We hear these questions often at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, and we have the answers for you.  We’ve had over 35 years of experience handling workers’ compensation claims and know just what to do. Workers’ compensation is a complex area of law, and an injured BJ’s worker must meet many deadlines. Contact us today, and we will explain your legal rights at 973-920-7900.

Accidents That Can Occur While Working at BJ’s

Workers at BJ’s could be involved in an in-store accident, even doing seemingly mundane tasks. Other jobs performed include:

• Keeping displays and shelves clean, appealing, and well-stocked.
• Rotating and shifting products, removing stale dated items, and checking codes.
• Backstocking and Restocking must be kept up to date.
• Sweeping, cleaning public and staff bathrooms, cleaning aisles, and other locations.
• Following sanitation and health protocols safely.
• Operating grocery equipment to ensure it is secure.
• Providing store signage is current and accurate.

Every day an unexpected accident could happen. There is such a wide range of positions for BJ’s workers that the likelihood of an accident increases depending on a person’s job duty. 

Typical positions at BJ’s include: 

• Club Managers
• Overnight Forklift Supervisors
• Retail Associates
• Front End Manager
• In-Store Shopper
• Fleet Safety Manager
• Cashiers
• Deli Staff
• Overnight Stock clerk
• Meat Manager
• Bakery Clerk
• Produce Clerk
• Overnight Zone Lead 
• Stand Up Forklift Driver
• Butcher/Meat Cutter
• Receiver

Many of these jobs require a great deal of physical activity resulting in a mishap. A butcher may cut themselves while trimming meat. A stocker could fall off a ladder or have a display fall on them. A bakery clerk could seriously burn their hand or arm while removing baked goods from the large ovens. It only takes a split second for an accident to happen.

Most jobs store workers perform mean moving heavy items, stocking shelves, loading and unloading, building and maintaining displays and using dangerous equipment to move things. 

BJ’s Workers Face Various Risks on the Job

BK’s employees face numerous risks on the job. Those include, but are not limited to:

• Eye injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Burns and Electrocution
• Neck and Back Injuries 
• Repetitive Motion Injuries 
• Slips & Falls
• Lacerations & Punctured Wounds
• Strained, Sprained, or Torn Muscles 
• Rotator Cuff Injuries 
• Knee Injuries
• Broken & Fractured Bones
• Traumatic Brain Injury

How The New Jersey Law Relates to BJ’s Workplace Accidents

The law states that all employers not covered by federal programs must have workers’ compensation coverage or be self-insured. If work-related injuries or death are on the job, the employer and other company officials are responsible for medical costs, temporary and permanent disability, or dependency benefits.

Do I need a doctor’s approval to return to work?

A physician should approve your return to work. If you are cleared to return to work on full duty or with light-duty restrictions, you must return as you will no longer receive temporary disability benefits.  

In some instances, you can challenge a doctor’s decision to go back to work. If you are not fully recovered, you may question the decision. Returning to work too soon may mean sustaining a different injury or re-injuring yourself.

What To Do If You Are Injured During Your BJ’s Work Shift 

Tell your manager immediately about your injury. Do not wait. Waiting to report your work injury may result in a workers’ compensation claim being denied. Tell your manager about the accident right after it happens, or speaks to human resources or an assistant manager. 

Keep a total record of the time, date, place, and type of injury you sustained and to whom you reported your work injury. Ensure someone you work with knows about your accident and injury. You may be required to see a company doctor, who will arrange for you to have authorized treatment.  If you are told to see an authorized company doctor, you must, or your workers’ compensation claim may be denied. 

Keep in-depth records on all medical care received, including expenses, doctor visits, and other related costs and appointments.

If your injuries are severe, immediately get emergency medical care. Fill out all accident reports, and follow all required steps to fill out a workers’ compensation claim. Ask your manager or HR person if you do not know how to file a workers’ compensation claim. 

When filling out your workers’ compensation form, you need to include your full name, what your job is, what type of injury you sustained, when, where, and how the injury happened, and anyone else involved in the accident.

What Documents You Need for a Workers’ Comp Claim in NJ

In the event your employer denies your accident happened, or refuses to provide you medical treatment, you would need to have evidence to support your injury claim. The evidence can include:

• Written, signed reports from reliable eyewitnesses.
• In-store videos (if available) from surveillance cameras.
• Pictures of the accident location.
• Doctor’s report outlining all injuries and expected recuperation time.
• Receipts for every medical treatment.
• Unpaid invoices for treatment already provided.
• Evidence you reported within the required deadline.
• Photos showing the cause of the accident.
• Pictures of your injuries.
• Proof the accident was reported.

If you need help compiling these documents, reach out to the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm workers’ compensation attorneys. We have decades of experience and can check your claim form with you.

It is essential to know that the most common reasons for denying workers’ compensation claims are failure to file your accident report by the set deadline and not having witnesses vouch that you hurt yourself at work. It is also important to note that a work accident that aggravates an initial or pre-existing condition is still compensable under the compensation law.

Contact the Experienced BJ’s Wholesale Club Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm Now! 

If you were recently injured at BJ’s Wholesale Club in a workplace accident, this is undoubtedly a difficult time for you and your family. The workers’ compensation lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm understand the challenges you face and want to help protect your rights. We aggressively represent every client we serve, ensuring they recover the benefits they need to move on with their lives after a serious accident while on the job.

Whether it be through a workers’ comp claim and/or a third-party personal injury case, our worker’s compensation and personal injury lawyers will help you navigate the complexities of the process, so you can focus on your recovery. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients and can effectively negotiate on your behalf with even the largest insurance companies. We have successfully served thousands of clients throughout New Jersey. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a workers’ compensation claim, give us a call today at (973) 920-7900 to request a free and confidential consultation. You can also connect with us through our online form. There is never a fee unless we win. We have two conveniently located offices in Denville and Morristown, New Jersey.