Many workers in North Carolina and Virginia work in the food services industry. They work in restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, supermarkets, grocery stores, pizza places, all sorts of ethnic food establishments, bakeries, and other related businesses.<\/p>\n
Restaurant workers work as chefs, cooks, waitresses and waiters, bartenders, hosts, cashiers, bussers, and many other professions. There are farm-to-table companies and other businesses that prepare ready-to-eat foods.<\/p>\n
Food delivery workers have become essential during the pandemic. Delivery or Truck drivers<\/a> can suffer all sorts of injuries from traumatic injuries and spinal cord damage<\/a> to broken bones and internal bleeding or even brain damage if they are involved in an auto or truck crash. <\/p>\n Anyone who prepares, serves, or cleans up food and beverages knows that food and drink work can be pretty rough at times. Workers may suffer a range of injuries including:<\/p>\n Food service and food preparation workers may also suffer eye injuries if chemicals or grease splash into their eyes.<\/p>\n Automation and mechanization have helped streamline the food preparation industry. Still, many workers are needed to help package food from local farms so that it can be shipped, delivered, and stored in local and distant groceries \u2013 or delivered to restaurants, hotels, and any place that serves food. Working in the food product center can be extremely dangerous. Many workers are pushed hard to do as much work as they can, especially during the busy holiday season.<\/p>\n Food preparation and packing work often cause repetitive stress injuries. Farmers in North Carolina and in Virginia have a high risk of injury according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>. Tractor overturns are a leading cause of death. \u201cEvery day, about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time.\u201d<\/p>\n Generally, only employees who suffer a work-related injury or an occupational illness can file a state workers\u2019 compensation<\/a> claim. Independent contractors cannot file a workers\u2019 compensation claim; however, employees of independent contractors who employ at least three people regularly\u00a0 can file a workers’ compensation claim. But Independent Contractors would have to file a personal injury<\/a> claim. In a personal injury claim, the claimant must show the company that hired or some other entity was negligent in some way and further, that this negligence caused the injury.<\/p>\n Many agricultural companies and food service companies hire seasonal workers. Most of these workers are considered employees even if they only work part of the year. Many part-time workers may also qualify as an employee. You should not assume that you fail to qualify as an employee \u2013 even when your employer asserts that you are an independent contractor. Many workers do qualify as employees. The core test is whether the employer controls when and how you do your work. The best course of action is to speak with an experienced North Carolina or Virginia workers\u2019 compensation lawyer who can explain what your legal employment status really is.<\/p>\n Workers who are injured on the job or suffer an occupational illness are entitled to the following benefits:<\/p>\n At Joe Miller Law Ltd., we provide experienced representation for every type of worker including food service workers. We\u2019ve helped thousands of employees obtain strong recoveries. To discuss your right to file and work injury claims and how the claims process works, call attorney Joe Miller, Esq., at 888-667-8295<\/a>. or use my online contact form<\/a> to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n If you want to communicate with us remotely, instead of in person, because of the pandemic \u2013 you can use our New Electronic Case Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Many workers in North Carolina and Virginia work in the food services industry. They work in restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, supermarkets, grocery stores, pizza places, all sorts of ethnic food establishments, bakeries, and other related businesses. Restaurant workers work as chefs, cooks, waitresses and waiters, bartenders, hosts, cashiers, bussers, and many other professions. There are … <\/p>\nWhat injuries are common to food service workers?<\/h3>\n
\n
Food packaging and workers compensation<\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the difference between an employee and an independent contractor<\/a>?<\/h3>\n
What benefits can injured food preparation and service workers claim?<\/h3>\n
\n