It may be hard to imagine just what sort of injury a cashier could have but in fact they are just as likely to have an injury after an accident as any other employee in a busy store or restaurant. If injured, a cashier can claim compensation through their own employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. All employers, barring a few exceptions, must provide workers’ compensation by rules in every U.S. state (except Texas). Cashiers are unlikely to have very severe and obvious injuries unless they fall over and hurt themselves away from the cash register they are working at. Even so, they are entitled to obtain compensation for the cost of any medical treatment, including doctors’ visits and medication. The other main component of a WC claim is the replacement of lost earnings as a cashier. This is not the full wage, but about two thirds of what might have been earned in the period off work. Injuries that Cashiers Might Have on the Job Cashiers don’t just sit or stand behind a cash register. They move around the store or a food counter from time to time and may slip and fall anywhere away from where they normally work. Slip and fall injuries may result in anything from broken bones to dislocated joints and spinal or head injuries. Cashiers who develop injuries while working at a cash register may suffer from repetitive strain injuries from the sort of movements they are continually making. Most cashiers stand up for hours at a time and may develop sore backs, and possibly thrombosis in their legs through lack of circulation. What a Claim Might be Worth It is hard to be specific about a potential workers’ compensation claim payment as every accident and injury is unique. WC claims are never likely to yield the same high payments as personal injury claims as the non monetary component of a PI claim is not a component of a workers’ compensation payment. A repetitive strain injury may not mean that there is a lot of medical treatment needed, but the cashier may not be able to do any more work until their wrist or hand has recovered. In this case, the lost earnings component of the claim is more important. This is calculated in most states as two thirds of what might have been earned if he employee had been able to be at work as normal. To take an example, assume that a cashier normally earns $9 an hour and works 40 hours a week. If forced to stay at home for three weeks to recover from a repetitive strain injury, they could claim $9 x 3 x 30 x 2/3 = $540. This would be in addition to any medical costs e.g. the cost of painkillers. Hiring a WC Attorney May be Advisable A WC attorney an provide useful advice on what to include in a workers’ comp. claim, explain any unusual procedures in the state you are working in and provide legal assistance in the event that your claim is denied. Additional Resources Types of Injures Covered by Worker's Comp What Damages Can I Receive from Workers' Compensation
