SAN DIEGO SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY INJURIES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
San Diego is home to some of the most exceptional restaurants, bars, and hotels in Southern California. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the hardworking and dedicated service workers who go above and beyond to make our experiences memorable. But as anyone who bartends, washes dishes, or cooks for a living knows, a job serving others can be difficult. The hours are long, and many hospitality workers spend the entirety of their shifts on their feet. With so much hustling and bustling, the risk for injury on the job is high.
At the Law Office of Matthew Russell we represent service and hospitality workers who suffer injuries on the job in restaurants, cafes, hotels, resorts, and other service-oriented settings. If you’ve been hurt at work and are unable to fulfill your job duties, you have a right to file for workers’ compensation to ease the financial burden. The following are just a few of the types of service and hospitality workers we help.
WHAT SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS’ DO WE REPRESENT?
-Concierges
-Guest services associates
-Housekeepers
-Night clerks
-Valet parkers
-Banquet servers
-Chefs
-Bartenders
-Restaurant hosts
-Waiters and waitresses
-Catering managers
-Dishwashers
WHAT SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY INJURIES QUALIFY FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION?
There are a wide variety of jobs in the service and hospitality industry, each with its own set of occupational risks. The restaurant environment in particular is a breeding ground for accidents, as workers must adapt quickly to meet customer requests and to keep service running efficiently. Even when a worker is careful to follow safety guidelines, serious injury can still happen on the job. Some of the most common service and hospitality injuries include:
1/Broken bones. Service workers are at high risk for slip and fall accidents caused by kitchen floors made slick with spilled food, beverages, or ice.
2/Burns. Open flames, dishwashers, deep fryers, and explosions in the kitchen can seriously burn restaurant workers.
3/Repetitive stress injuries. Balancing food trays, receiving heavy shipments, and moving tables and chairs can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
4/Cuts and lacerations. Service workers are at risk for deep cuts from working around or with sharp kitchen knives and cleaning up broken glassware.
5/Overexertion injuries. Standing for long periods without breaks and reaching across tables to serve can cause a back injury or neck injury.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES FOLLOWING A SERVICE OR HOSPITALITY ACCIDENT?
Service and hospitality employees work hard for their money, and many depend on tips as a major part of their income. If a waitress or valet driver is unable to work following a job-related accident, the financial loss can be devastating.
For this reason, it’s important for service workers to document their full earnings, including tips. Income replacement benefits are calculated using an employee’s average weekly wage, and a failure to report your actual earnings could negatively affect your workers’ compensation settlement. The process of filing for workers’ compensation as a service or hospitality worker is full of legal hoops and obstacles like this, but a San Diego attorney can help you navigate them.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REPRESENTATION FOR SERVICE OR HOSPITALITY INJURIES
At the Law Office of Matthew Russell our workers’ compensation lawyers have helped countless service and hospitality employees collect the benefits they deserve. Whether you’re off your feet due to an overexertion injury or have been seriously injured in a kitchen accident, we’ll fight to make sure you’re not stuck with the financial costs of recovery.
You work hard every day to make sure the customers you serve have a positive experience. Now it’s our turn to work hard so you can focus on getting better.
Contact us today by giving us a call at (619) 544-1506 to schedule your free initial consultation.