Working in retail is not just mentally draining – it can also be physically dangerous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 3.7 recordable injury cases per every 100 full-time workers in 2022 alone in the retail sector – more so than in construction and manufacturing!
You are not alone if you are a Dollar General employee recently injured on the job. But you likely knew that already; several Reddit posts from Dollar General employees, including assistant store managers, are online.
“Dollar General continues to expose its employees to unsafe conditions at its stores across the nation. As one of the nation’s largest retailers, the company must focus its attention on resolving these issues and making corporate-wide changes to protect the safety and wellbeing of the people they employ.”
An injured Dollar General employee did not say these words.
Nor did a workers comp lawyer for Dollar General employees hurt on the job.
No. An Assistant Secretary for Occupational Health and Safety with the U.S. Department of Labor said these words in a May 2023 press release announcing an additional $3.4 million in penalties against Dollar General for unsafe work conditions. Examples of safety violations at Dollar General stores include goods stacked too high in front of an electrical panel, emergency exits and aisles blocked by carts and merchandise, and inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees.
So, if you have suffered an injury while working at one of the more than 19,000 Dollar General stores throughout the United States, a “severe violator” of safety rules meant to protect you, here is what to know about starting the claim process and negotiating the Dollar General workers compensation settlement you deserve.
Read on to learn more.
Then call us to see why others turned to us to resolve Dollar General workers comp and injury claims: (804) 251-1620 or (757) 810-5614.
With offices in Richmond, Newport News, Baltimore, Hagerstown, Cambridge, and Florida, we can help you throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Florida.
As a Dollar General employee, either at a store, on the road as a truck driver, or in a warehouse, you work hard to ensure that customers get the products they need at affordable prices. However, that demanding work can come with its own set of challenges and risks. From stocking shelves to unloading semi-trucks, cleaning spills, and operating heavy machinery, many potential hazards could leave you with an injury.
One of the most common injuries that Dollar General employees experience is a back strain (also called a lumbar strain). This can happen from lifting or carrying heavy items, as well as from bending, twisting, or reaching in an awkward position. It can even result from a motor vehicle crash on the job.
A back strain may cause or contribute to (flare up, aggravate, exacerbate) a herniated disc or pre-existing degenerative disc disease. Over time, this can lead to the need for epidural steroid injections, surgery (such as a discectomy or spinal fusion), and chronic pain and mobility issues that can make it difficult for you to continue working.
Another common injury is a slip and fall accident. With so many products on the shelves, spills can happen quite often. Plus, if your work involves cleaning up messes, like mud a customer tracked in on a stormy day or spilled laundry detergent, you may be at a higher risk of slipping and falling on wet surfaces. These types of accidents can cause anything from bruises and cuts to broken bones and head injuries.
In addition, a falling object may strike you if you work in a Dollar General warehouse, stock room, or backroom. Boxes and other heavy items can easily slip from above and cause severe injuries to the neck or shoulders, such as a torn rotator cuff. And if you work in the stock room or warehouse, you may have to use heavy equipment like pallet jacks or forklifts, which can put you at risk of harm.
Further, there is a risk of occupational diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition can happen from performing the same tasks repeatedly, such as scanning items at the checkout counter or typing on a computer. These injuries do not always manifest immediately; they may become noticeable (and problematic) over time.
Finally, there have been 49 deaths and 172 injuries from gun violence at Dollar General stores since 2014 alone in the United States. Indeed, Dollar General stores may have only one or two staff at a time, making them an easy target for robberies. Escaping physical harm may not stop you from developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if someone threatens you with physical violence or death if you do not hand over money from a Dollar General cash register.
As you can see, almost any injury can fall under workers comp. But remember that you may have additional legal remedies. This is another reason it is so important to contact a Dollar General workers comp attorney after you get hurt at work – no matter the cause. You may have a workers compensation claim and a third-party civil action under negligence and tort law.
If you suffer an injury while working for Dollar General, take charge of the situation. You cannot count on your employer to look out for you.
Your first step is to see a doctor about your injury.
That sounds obvious, and in your case, it might be – if you have suffered a nasty cut or a fracture, you will rush to an urgent care center or the emergency room (ER) fast. But for conditions like shoulder or back pain or even a concussion, you might put off treatment, especially if you fear losing your job due to lengthy disability from the injury or the medical facility is far away from your Dollar General store or warehouse (a common problem since Dollar General has many stores in rural areas).
We get it.
But we recommend seeing a doctor if there is any chance you suffered an injury and save all the paperwork. Your initial medical reports may win the case if a dispute arises.
In addition, you must report your injury to Dollar General at once. Tell your immediate supervisors in writing, and keep a copy of this letter, email, or text. You can use our sample work injury report as a template.
Further, you should call Dollar General’s 24/7 Risk Management Hotline at (800) 456-9446 to report the work-related accident and injury. Write down what time you call this number, who you talk with (likely a triage nurse), and the instructions you receive (such as what medical provider to see).
You risk losing the right to workers compensation benefits if you do not report the accident and injury in writing within 30 days.
After you report your injury, Dollar General will open a claim.
But you must take additional steps to protect your rights.
For example, in Virginia, the statute of limitations for workers comp is two years from the accident date. This means you must file a workers compensation claim with the proper state agency before this deadline, or Dollar General has a procedural defense to your claim.
Once you have reported your occupational injury to Dollar General and submitted a claim to the Workers Compensation Commission, Dollar General must accept or deny the claim.
If Dollar General accepts your claim, great! Ask for an Award Agreement form to review.
If Dollar General rejects your claim, you should ask the Commission to refer your claim to the hearing docket. And then you should start the pretrial discovery phase (interrogatories, depositions, requests for production, requests for admissions, IMEs, etc.).
From here, your Dollar General workers comp claim can take many paths depending on the specific facts of how the injury happened, the nature and extent of the injury, and your doctor’s opinion on disability.
Here is the bottom line: treating and reporting your injury quickly is crucial to the success of your workers comp case. Following these steps does not guarantee receiving all the benefits you deserve. But it will help.
And as always, feel free to ask for help if you have workers comp questions or if Dollar General is delaying the approval of medical treatment or wage loss payments.
Not lawfully.
Dollar General may not retaliate against you for seeking workers compensation benefits or participating as a witness in a coworker’s claim.
If Dollar General fired you after an injury, you may have additional state and federal causes of action.
Yes.
The law cannot force you or Dollar General to settle your case.
But in our experience, you can negotiate a Dollar General workers compensation settlement.
The settlement range for a Dollar General workers compensation case depends on multiple variables. Therefore, there is no average settlement amount you can – or should – use to negotiate.
Instead, we recommend evaluating these factors before you send a workers comp demand letter to Dollar General or its lawyers:
Dollar General is a self-insured employer in Virginia.
In addition, Dollar General is the claim administrator on its files. Therefore, your employer, rather than an insurance adjuster, will make critical decisions in defending or valuing your case.
Two law firms have noted their appearance for Dollar General in Virginia workers compensation cases we handled recently:
We are familiar with these law firms and their attorneys, and we have gone to trial against and negotiated settlements directly and with mediation with both.
Indeed, the December 2023 edition of Safety+Health Magazine, published by the National Safety Council, reported that three of OSHA’s highest proposed monetary penalties in the fiscal year 2023 involved Dollar General:
In addition, OSHA inspected, issued citations for safety violations, or proposed penalties against these Dollar General stores (and one distribution center) in Virginia in the past five years:
These inspections and proposed penalties for unsafe work conditions do not mean an injury occurred.
However, they show that Dollar General employees face a variety of occupational hazards that can cause work-connected injuries and illnesses.
Face it: nobody plans to get hurt at work, but accidents happen.
When dealing with a Dollar General workers comp case, navigating through the application process on your own can be overwhelming and confusing. The system works against you.
But you have two options: take on this large company yourself or hire a top-rated workers comp lawyer to handle the legal process while you focus on recovering.
If you choose option two, that is where we come in.
At our personal injury and disability law firm, we have seen it all – from severe injuries to long-term disabilities and auto accidents. And we know every case is unique, so we offer personalized attention and strategy for each client. We aim to make a positive difference in your life and help you get back on your feet.
So do not hesitate to contact us to see if we will accept your case.
We know workers comp.
And we want to help you win your Dollar General claim.
Remember to check out the rest of our articles to learn what to expect after a Dollar General injury, including our workers comp glossary.