Stop & Shop Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Stop & Shop is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Stop & Shop have 422 stores and approximately 82,000 employees.

As a Stop & Shop grocery store worker, you could get hurt unexpectedly. Accidents can happen during a shift, whether you are moving boxes of produce or responsible for stocking shelves in the central part of the store.

If you, or someone you know, recently sustained a work injury, you need to file a workers’ compensation claim to ensure your rights are protected. Your workers’ compensation claim process can be difficult because numerous forms and deadlines are required. It can become confusing, which is why we are here to help. At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we will explain your legal rights and help you get the benefits you deserve. Contact us today at (973) 920-7900.

What Could Happen While Working at Stop & Shop

For example, in their Bakery Department, workers could get burned due to hot ovens, pans, and baking utensils. Solids, liquids, oils, or flour could cause a worker to slip and fall.

Meat counter and deli workers who use meat cutters, sharp saws, knives, and other dangerous equipment could severely sustain lacerations to their bodies. Also, cleaning products for store floors can cause slips and falls.

Store stockers and cashiers face daily slip and fall hazards, such as tripping over boxes in the aisles, slipping on a spilled liquid, or squashed fruits or vegetables. Using a step ladder can be dangerous if it collapses or becomes unbalanced while a worker is on it.

Stop & Shop workers also perform other activities while doing their jobs, including:

• Keeping displays and shelves clean, well-stocked, and visually appealing.
• Rotating products, removing dated products, and checking all barcodes.
• Updating all store signage to be accurate and current.
• Backstocking and Restocking.
• Sweeping or Mopping bathrooms and aisles.
• Operating grocery equipment to ensure it is working correctly and safely.

Although all job positions are necessary to keep the store running smoothly, someone can get seriously injured and be out of work. This includes placing proper caution signage or notifying other staff members about potential hazards on the store floor.

Stop & Shop Workplace Accidents and the Law

Under New Jersey law, employers not covered by federal programs must have workers’ compensation coverage or be self-insured.

If work-related injuries or death occurs on the job, the employer and other company officials can be held liable for medical costs, temporary and permanent disability, or dependency benefits.

There are civil penalties in New Jersey for officers of a company and the employer when they do not maintain workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Awards or penalties from a workers’ compensation claim can become liens against the uninsured employer and company officers.

Why You Need a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Hiring a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer increases your chances of obtaining the full range of benefits you are entitled to for your work-related injury. Filing a workers’ compensation claim on your own can be problematic due to the complex field of forms and other requirements needed to file. You may face issues with your employer trying to get you back to work before you can manage it physically, or they may deny benefits if they do not feel a specific medical treatment is necessary.

At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys investigate your workplace accident and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim. We also ensure paperwork is submitted correctly and on time, avoiding common mistakes that may lead to your application being denied.

It is essential to be aware that insurance companies use the workers’ compensation system to exploit and shortchange injured workers. They may question the severity of your injuries or suggest the injuries were not work-related. Your Todd J. Leonard Law Firm workers’ compensation lawyer will fight for your rights against those insurers. We ensure you get the benefits you are entitled to receive.

Potential Risks Stop & Shop Workers Face

Stop & Shop workers face numerous risks while on the job. Those include, but are not limited to:

• Burns and Electrocution
• Rotator Cuff / Shoulder Injuries
• Knee, Ankle, Foot Injuries
• Slips and Falls
• Neck & Back Injuries
• Eye Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Broken or Fractured Bones
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Repetitive Motion Injuries
• Injuries due to Falling Objects

What A Doctor’s Approval to Return to Work Means for You

A physician should approve your return to work, determine whether you have recovered completely, and when it is safe to resume work part-time or full-time.

If your doctor cleared you to return to work, you must return, or you may lose your right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The same holds when the doctor decides you can return to work with light-duty restrictions.

You can challenge a doctor’s decision in some cases. If you feel you have not yet fully recovered, you may question the return-to-work decision. Returning to work too soon may result in sustaining a different injury or re-injuring yourself.

What Steps to Take If You Are Injured at Work

Do not wait to tell your manager about your injury. If you delay giving notice to your manager or the company, it may result in a denial of your workers’ compensation claim.

Keep a complete record of the time, date, place, and type of injury you sustained and to whom you reported the injury. Ensure another individual you work with knows about your accident and injury. The general rule is that your employer chooses where and what doctors you receive authorized treatment from. If you are told to see a company doctor, you must, or your workers’ compensation claim may be denied.

Also, keep complete records on all medical care received, including visits to the doctor and other related expenses and appointments. When filling out your workers’ compensation form, you need to include your full name, your job title at Shop & Stop, what type of injury you sustained, when, where, and how the injury happened, and the names of anyone else involved the incident.

Evidence a Stop & Shop Worker Needs to File a WC Claim

You need to have evidence to support your injury claim and file it with your claim’s form. The type of evidence you need includes:

• Proof you reported your accident.
• Proof you reported your injuries within the required deadline.
• Written and signed reports from reliable eyewitnesses.
• Any pictures of the accident location showing the cause of the accident.
• Any pictures of your injuries.
• Obtain in-store videos from surveillance cameras.
• Provide the doctor’s report detailing all injuries and an expected recuperation time.
• Provide all receipts for every medical treatment.
• Provide unpaid invoices for treatment already provided.

These items are difficult to compile. If you need help, reach out to the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm workers’ compensation attorneys. We’ve got decades of experience and can check your claim form with you.

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

Why You Need a Lawyer to File a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Case

Working with a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer makes obtaining benefits much more straightforward and can increase the chances your claim gets approved and maximize the number of benefits.

To successfully bring a workers’ compensation claim, you need to know what information to include. Failing to present relevant details can delay a claim or result in your claim being denied. You may need to contact multiple healthcare providers, asking for your medical records. You also need to include details on how the accident occurred.

The insurance company reviewing your claim may argue that your claim does not qualify for benefits. Or, the insurance company may state that your injuries were unrelated to your job, were pre-existing and that you can still perform the necessary functions of your job. An experienced New Jersey workers’ comp lawyer knows how to effectively deal with the insurance company, so you do not have to.

Contact the Experienced Stop & Shop Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm Now!

If you were recently injured 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.