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

Founded in 1883, Kroger is chain of U.S. supermarkets with over 2,000 locations. As the largest supermarket retailer by revenue, there’s no denying that the company’s success depends on the strength of their workforce. But grocery store employees work under dangerous conditions that can easily cause them to be injured. Even if they are not involved in an accident, wear and tear from years of doing the same task can result in repetitive motion injuries.

As an injured Kroger employee, you have the right to seek monetary benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation program. Perhaps you have been recently injured and have yet to submit your paperwork for a claim. Or, you are waiting to hear back on a claim that was submitted to Kroger’s insurance company. Either way, you have probably found yourself asking, “How long will it take to find out if my workers’ compensation claim is approved?”

We know that this is one of many questions you probably have on your mind right now, as someone who is struggling to recover from a work-related injury. The labor law attorneys of Normandie Law Firm are here to assist you, so contact us anytime to schedule a free case review.

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How Long Does it Take Kroger to Respond to a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

By law, Kroger’s insurance provider has up to 90 days to get back to you on a workplace injury claim. However, there’s a good chance that you’ll hear from the company earlier, as the majority of insurers provide a response within 30 days. As long as there are no unexpected complications or disputes between you and your employer, your payments can start as early as 2 weeks from the time you submit your claim.

To give you an idea of what’s covered under the California workers’ compensation program, here are the payments that may be available to you:

• Medical expenses related to the treatment of your injuries.

• Temporary disability benefits while you are out of work.

• Payments for permanent disability if you are unable to resume your job duties.

• Retraining benefits to help you find a new career. 

• Death benefits for dependents in the event you pass away from a work-related illness or injury.

Steps to Take if You are Injured at Work

As the victim of a workplace accident, it’s essential to notify your employer right away, as they will need to initiate the claims process with their insurance company. Technically, you have 30 days to report a workplace accident or job-related injury, but this is not something you should wait on. First, you want to ensure that all the medical expenses related to your injury are covered right from the start. You also want to avoid any long gaps in payments while you are out of work.

Your employer is required by law to provide you with the claim forms within 1 working day. So there should be little to no delay in obtaining the paperwork for a workers’ compensation claim. The statute of limitations for a workplace accident claim is 1 year, but we advise that you complete the process as fast as possible. Again, this is the best way to receive the benefits you deserve in a timely manner and prevent any long-term damage to your finances.

Please note that you should go to the emergency room first if you have severe injuries. This will not affect your right to workers’ comp, though you should set the stage for a claim by telling the doctor that you have come in for a work-related injury. Just make sure to contact your supervisor as soon as possible, so that Kroger’s insurance company will need to be informed of the situation.

Legal representation is not required on a workers’ comp claim, but it’s always helpful to obtain advice from a lawyer with experience in workplace injury cases. The claims process appears simple in theory, but we’ve worked with many supermarket employees who were denied benefits that they were entitled to by law. As your legal advocate, our job is to ensure that you receive every penny you deserve as someone that was injured while working for Kroger.

Can I Still get Workers’ Comp if I Don’t Find out about my Injury Right Away?

Some injuries while working at Kroger are caused by accidents, like slipping on water on the floor. But other injuries take considerable time to develop, like bursitis and carpel tunnel syndrome. These are conditions that are caused by repetitive motions over many months, and as a result, it’s impossible to report the injury to your employer right away.

For injuries caused by cumulative trauma, the statute of limitations is based on the discovery rule. Essentially, the 1-year deadline starts from the time you become aware of the injury, typically through a medical diagnosis. With these cases, you may run into problems, like trying to prove that your health condition is a direct result of the tasks you are required to perform at work. That’s why it’s in your best interest to seek guidance from a Kroger’s workplace injury attorney.

If I have Disagreements with the Insurance Company, What are my Rights?

It’s undeniably frustrating when you and your employer’s insurance company disagree on the benefits you are entitled to, but this is a fairly common issue among injured Kroger employees. In fact, much of the work we do as workplace accident lawyers has to do with disputes over certain benefits, like permanent disability payments.

One option you have is to ask for a medical evaluation by a qualified medical evaluator (QME). This is a doctor that’s been certified by the California workers compensation board for the purpose of diagnosing and evaluating work-related injuries. However, there is another option where you would have greater control over the process of being evaluated for a workers’ compensation claim. With help from an experienced attorney, you can arrange to meet with an AME, or an agreed medical evaluator. An AME Is a doctor that is mutually agreeable to you, your lawyer, and Kroger’s insurance company.

We can help you explore all the actions that are available to you if your workers’ comp provider disagrees with you over the benefits you can receive. Call us right away and ask to speak with a lawyer that’s experienced in workplace injury disputes.

Contact Our Law Firm

Legal representation is the key to a successful resolution when you are fighting for your rights as an injured worker. As a dedicated employee, you take it for granted that your employer will stand by you and provide you with the necessary compensation for a work-related accident. Sadly, this is not always the case, and many workers are left to wonder what they can do if their claim for workers’ comp is unjustly denied.

We operate under the Zero Fee Guarantee policy, so you pay nothing out of pocket for us to represent you. The only way we receive payment is by recovering your settlement and deducting a portion to go towards our expenses. That means you will receive free legal services, whether you are initiating a claim or continuing an existing lawsuit with us. But we don’t expect you to make up your mind without getting to know us during a free case evaluation or free second opinion.

For more information on your rights and legal options, contact the workers’ compensation lawyers of Normandie as soon as possible.

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