Let Our New York Attorneys Help if You Were Injured at Your Retail Job 

Retail employees likely do not think about the dangers of their workplace very often. After all, retail is not an inherently dangerous occupation, unlike, say, heavy industry, construction, and transportation. But retail workers are not immune from injury; on the contrary, the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses for retail workers in New York is in line with the statewide average for all occupations. Fortunately, retail workers are eligible for benefits through the workers’ compensation program on the same basis as those in industries traditionally considered more dangerous. Our Suffolk County workers compensation lawyers explain how below. 

Injuries Are Common Among New York Retail Workers 

At the national level, there were a total of 3.4 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 retail workers in 2019, which is higher than the average of 3.0 across all industries. However, retail workers in New York do better than their national counterparts, facing a nonfatal accident and illness rate of only 2.7 per 100 workers — almost in line with the statewide average of 2.8 across all industries. 

Common Work-Related Injuries in the Retail Industry

Working in retail is more difficult than the average non-retail worker imagines, but looks can be deceiving. Retail workers’ job duties go far beyond merely ringing customers up at the checkout, and can often involve quite a bit of physical exertion. Some of the most common types of work-related injuries in the retail industry include: 

• Repetitive motion injuries: Repeated motions — such as bending over, lifting boxes, and folding clothes — can lead to long-term injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. 
• Slips and falls: Many retail workers — stockroom workers particularly — climb ladders frequently, which subjects them to the risk of falls. 
• Sprained and torn muscles: Unloading, carrying, and unpacking boxes involves frequent bending over, heaving, and twisting, which can lead to muscle sprains and tears. 
• Chronic back pain: Standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces like retail floors can lead to chronic back pain over the course of time
• Workplace violence: Retail workers are at particular risk of workplace violence due to criminal activity, especially those who work late hours, in high crime areas, or in high-risk establishments like liquor and convenience stores. 

Retail workers who experience any of these injuries (and others) and who require time off work to recuperate are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. 

Workman’s Compensation Benefits Available for Injured Retail Workers

There are three types of workers’ compensation benefits available to retail employees: 

• Medical benefits: Pays the full cost of the employee’s necessary medical treatment, so long as it is provided by an authorized healthcare provider
• Cash benefits: Pays a portion of the worker’s weekly wages (up to certain maximums) until he or she can return to work
• Death benefits: Pays a benefit to the worker’s surviving spouse, children, and other dependents should he or she die from the work-related injury

Contact Our Nassau and Suffolk County Workers Compensation Lawyers for Help 

If you are a retail worker who has suffered an injury on the job, you likely are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. To get started with a claim, please contact the Suffolk County workers compensation lawyers at Turley, Redmond and Rosasco by using our online form or calling 631-399-0400. We serve both New York City and Long Island, including Nassau County and Suffolk County.