How Long Does it Take to Hear Back from Costco on a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

As America’s largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot is a major presence in many people’s lives. That includes that army of workers that keep the stores going on a daily basis. If you are one of these workers, you know that there are many opportunities for accidents at the store that can lead to a serious injury. Fortunately, those who are injured in the course of their job duties can file a claim for workers’ compensation. In fact, you can obtain these benefits for any type of work-related injury, including cumulative trauma injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome.

If you hurt yourself while working at Home Depot, you understandably have many questions about your legal rights, including how long it will take to hear back from the insurance company on a workers’ compensation claim. At a time like this, it’s best to seek advice from a lawyer with experience in workplace accident cases. Our attorneys are here to provide you with guidance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so please contact us if you’re interested in learning how long it takes to receive a response from Costco on a workplace injury claim.

Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements

How Long Does it Take for Costco to Approve a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Under California law, Costco’s insurance company has up to 90 days to provide you with a response if you’ve filed for workers’ compensation benefits. But most employees receive a response within 30 days, so you may start to receive payments within a few weeks of submitting your paperwork. As for the benefits you can obtain, they may include:

• Payments for medical treatments
• Temporary disability benefits (lost wages) for up to 104 weeks.
• Permanent disability benefits if you are unable to return to work due to the severity of your health condition. 
• Retraining / job displacement benefits if you can be trained for a new career.
• Death benefits for loved ones in the event you pass away from a work-related accident / injury.

Please note that you have certain obligations as well under the law to qualify for the payments listed above. In the next section, we will talk about the steps you must take in order to protect your right to workers’ compensation.

What to Do if You are Injured While Working at Costco

As soon as you sustain an injury, make sure to talk to your supervisor, who will initiate the process for a claim with Costco’s insurance company. By law, you have 30 days to report an injury during your work shift, but we do not recommend that you wait this long. Any delays in terms of notifying your employer will add to the amount of time it will take to approve your claim. In addition, the insurance company may question whether your injury actually happened at work, which is the last thing you want when the bills are piling up and you are forced to be out of work for an extended period of time.

In terms of how long you have to submit a work-related accident claim, the statute of limitations in California is 1 year. Again, we advise that you complete your paperwork in a timely manner, ideally within the first month so that you don’t have any major disruptions to your finances.

Keep in mind that if you have severe or life-threatening injuries, it’s best to go to the emergency room right away. Just make sure to contact your employer as soon as possible and save any documentation (medical records) related to your injuries. Also, make it clear to the nurses, treating physician, etc., that you are there for a workplace injury. This will help to strengthen your case in the event you are questioned by the insurance company.

Aside from notifying their insurance company, Costco is obligated to provide you with the claim forms and instructions on where to go for treatment within 1 business day. If you have any questions about how to complete the forms, don’t hesitate to contact our office. Alternatively, maybe it’s been weeks after you submitted your claim, but you have yet to hear back from the insurance company. Others call us when their claim for workers’ comp is rejected by Costco or they are denied specific benefits, and they don’t understand why. No matter what stage you are at in the claims process, our work accident injury lawyers are here for you.

What if I Don’t Find Out About an Injury Right Away?

A lot of workers are concerned when they find themselves with an injury that is not diagnosed right away. This is due to California’s labor laws, which require employees to report injuries related to their job within 30 days of the incident. This is easy enough if you hurt yourself from a slip and fall or another obvious accident. But there are many health conditions that are caused by months or years of cumulative stress on the body. These include repetitive motions injuries, like bursitis, tendonitis, and carpel tunnel syndrome.

If you have been diagnosed with a cumulative trauma injury due to your job duties, you have 1 year from the date of discovering the injury to submit a workers’ compensation claim. Generally, the 1-year period begins on the date of diagnosis by a doctor in your employer’s provider network. Proving your right to compensation can be more challenging with these cases compared to straightforward incidents, like being hit with a falling object. To ensure the best possible outcome in a Costco work injury claim, contact the employment rights lawyers of Normandie.

What can I Do if I Disagree with the Insurance Company over my Benefits?

Even if your claim is approved by Costco’s insurance company, it’s possible that you and the insurer will disagree over the payments you are entitled to. This is where legal representation really counts, especially if you have permanent injuries that may keep you out of work on a long-term or permanent basis.

In the event there is a dispute between you and Costco’s insurance company, you can arrange for an evaluation by a qualified medical evaluator, or QME. This type of physician is certified by the state division of worker’s compensation, meaning they received specialized training for the purpose of evaluating workplace injuries.

If you are being represented by an attorney, you can ask to be evaluated by an agreed medical evaluator (AME). This is a doctor that you, your attorney, and Costco’s insurance company will agree on, which gives you greater control over the process of being evaluated for a workers’ compensation claim.

Free Legal Services from a Workplace Injury Attorney

No matter what type of injury you sustained while working at Costco, knowing about your legal rights is critical to recovering your monetary losses. That includes knowing how long it should take to hear back on a workers’ comp claim and what to do if you are denied benefits by Costco’s insurance company.

Our attorneys have been fighting for the rights of California employees for many years. We know how companies like Costco can take advantage of the laws and deny the payments you rightfully deserve. Furthermore, we understand how concerned you are about the cost of hiring a lawyer when you are out of work for any amount of time.

Here at Normandie, we provide a Zero Fee Guarantee, which means you will never pay upfront to hire us. We cover the costs associated with your claim and wait to receive a portion of your settlement at the end of your case. And if we don’t recover your payment, you walk away with no responsibility for any of our expenses.

As you can see, there’s no risk to you whatsoever in taking some time to meet with us. Call us today and schedule a free case review if you sustained an injury while working at a Costco location.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Can I get Lost Wages from Costco if I Fell and Injured Myself at their Store
Costco Gas Station Accident Injury Lawyer
Average Value of an Accident Injury Case at Costco