Restaurants often are meant to have a relaxing and comfortable ambiance, but the kitchen can be a place where injuries often occur. Sharp objects, slippery surfaces, and burns can all contribute to injuries that might lead to workers' compensation claims being filed. If you become injured while working in the kitchen, you will always want to take your injury seriously and seek medical attention promptly.
The Importance of Receiving Medical Attention
Even if you think your injuries are minor, they might be more severe than you think. You're more likely to recover from your injuries if you receive treatment as quickly as possible. Your medical records will allow you to prove that you were actually injured.
Tell Your Employer
An employer is never happy when they find out that an employee is injured, but you will need to inform your employer since they must report your injuries to their workers' compensation insurance provider.
Know If You'll Be Covered
The most common types of injuries covered by workers' compensation are slip-and-fall accidents, cuts, and burns. However, a restaurant's workers' compensation insurance provider will also cover injuries resulting from robberies or other forms of violence. In some cases, you may be driving while providing services for your employer, such as food delivery, and you will be covered under workers' compensation.
State Regulations
If you are not sure if you will be covered, make sure to consult with a workers' compensation attorney. Some states require that part-time contractors be covered under workers' compensation. Other states restrict the conditions under which you would be considered injured within the scope of employment. However, a workers' compensation attorney can help you make the case for why your incident should fit.
Reasons Why Your Claim Might Be Denied
Your employer might argue that your injuries were self-inflicted. You are not allowed to injure yourself on purpose to receive workers' compensation benefits unless your injuries are entirely an accident.
Also, if your actions violate company policy or if you were committing a crime when you became injured you might not be entitled to compensation under workers' compensation insurance. Finally, you must have been on the job. For example, if you came in to eat on your day off, you would have your workers' compensation claim denied.
Unfortunately, even if none of these situations fit, your employer might try to stretch the truth to have your claim denied. Therefore, you will need help from workers' compensation law services.