Restaurant workers do the hard work of making, delivering, and handling the food that we eat when we go out. Despite advances in safety technology and laws that require employers to take precautions, restaurant workers are still at risk of injuries from burns they may have suffered from as well as back strains and aches in the workplace. When a restaurant worker is injured on the job, he or she may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits including paid medical care, partial replacement of lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Did you suffer an injury or become ill while working at a restaurant in South Carolina? If so, you might qualify for workers’ compensation from your employer’s insurance policy. South Carolina workers’ compensation laws require restaurants to provide coverage to restaurant employees. As part of restaurant employee safety, every food establishment in South Carolina that has three or more employees is required to carry insurance that pays for medical treatment and wage replacement if a restaurant employee is injured on the job and cannot work.
You don’t have to be a full-time employee to be eligible for restaurant workers’ workers’ comp insurance benefits. When either full-time or part-time restaurant employees suffer a work injury or illness in South Carolina, the workers’ compensation benefits can include:
- Payment of medical expenses associated with the injury, including disability
- Compensation for up to two-thirds of lost wages
Our experienced South Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers at Joye Law Firm represent restaurant workers in all types of foodservice establishments, including:
- Fast food restaurants
- Fast-casual restaurants
- Upscale restaurants/fine dining
- Chain restaurants
- Cafeterias
- Bars and pubs
Servers, bussers, cooks, and other food preparers are often injured on the job. Our knowledgeable lawyers can serve you well if you want to make sure that you receive all the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve, including lifetime medical care benefits related to your injury.
When you hire a restaurant accident attorney from Joye Law Firm to handle your workers’ compensation claim, you can rest assured that you are working with experienced lawyers with an in-depth knowledge of the state’s workers’ comp laws. Our South Carolina workers’ comp attorneys are committed to fighting for full benefits for you. Call 877-941-1019 today to schedule a free, no-obligation evaluation of your claim.
Common Restaurant Worker Injuries
Restaurant work poses a number of risks and dangers. South Carolina has restaurant employee safety rules to protect workers and prevent injuries. Because of the nature of the work, employees can suffer a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Severe burns – Burns (often from hot surfaces, hot grease or scalding water) are among the most common fast food injuries in the restaurant industry. Burns can be extremely painful and can require a lengthy recovery, limiting your ability to work. Workers’ comp benefits can cover compensate you for scarring or permanent disfigurement caused by burns.
- Severe cuts. In a hectic restaurant kitchen, it’s easy for a knife or sharp edge in the kitchen to cause a serious cut. Broken glasses and plates also present laceration hazards. Any cut that is serious enough to cause infection, limit the use of your hand or another body part, or sever your finger should be reported to your supervisor immediately.
- Repetitive use injuries. These injuries are common in the kitchen environment. Tasks such as chopping vegetables over and over, lifting heavy bags of food, and putting heavy trays into the oven repeatedly every day can cause injury from the repeated stress.
- Sprains and strains. Restaurant work is demanding physical labor. Common injuries to restaurant workers include repetitive-use injuries and slipping and falling on slick surfaces throughout the restaurant. A restaurant worker may suffer a sprained or strained knee, wrists, or back in a fall.
- Lower back injuries. Lower back pain is a problem in the restaurant industry. Injuries to the lower back can occur when restaurant workers use improper techniques to lift heavy boxes, pots or pans. Lower back injuries often result from reoccurring movements rather than one event.
Can I File a Personal Injury or Workers’ Comp Lawsuit for an Injury in a Restaurant?
Restaurant workers in South Carolina who are injured in a workplace accident typically will need to claim benefits through the workers’ compensation claim process. Workers’ compensation claim benefits you receive for your restaurant injury may be limited to medical bills and wage replacement for the time you miss work.
A South Carolina workers’ compensation claim does not require the injured restaurant worker to show that their employer or anyone else was at fault.
If your restaurant injury was caused by a third-party or someone other than your employer, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. A knowledgeable restaurant injury lawyer can review your injury and discuss your legal options.
Medical Care
