McDonald’s Work Comp Claims

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McDonald’s employs thousands of workers across the state of Illinois in fast-paced restaurant environments. From the front counter to the kitchen and drive-thru, many McDonald’s jobs involve physical activity, time pressure, and safety risks that can lead to injuries and workers’ compensation claims. We have also helped workers injured at their corporate office.

Because McDonald’s employs so many young people and often newer workers, we have seen at times that they try to take advantage of some of the injured workers. Here are some things every worker should know:

• You are eligible for work comp benefits the moment you are hired and whether you are full or part time
• Work comp pays for 100% of your medical care so you do not need to have or use your own health insurance
• Work comp also pays you for your time off work as long as that is what a doctor recommends
• When you are all better you will be eligible for a settlement. The total amount depends on many things including how severe the injury is
• Illinois is a no fault law which means you do not have to prove negligence to receive workers’ compensation

Common Work Injuries At McDonald’s

Kitchen employees face a number of common hazards. Burns are one of the most frequent injuries, often caused by fryers, grills, hot oil, or hot surfaces. Slips and falls can also happen in kitchen areas where floors are wet or greasy. These accidents can lead to injuries involving the back, knees, shoulders, wrists, or head. Even a simple fall can cause serious damage to the body.

Employees working the front counter or drive-thru also face some hazards. Wet floors, spilled drinks, and crowded workspaces can cause slip and fall accidents. Workers can also be injured while carrying supplies, lifting boxes, or restocking inventory. Some McDonald’s employees are required to take out trash, clean outside areas, or walk through parking lots and drive thru lanes, where uneven pavement, ice, snow, or poor lighting can increase the risk of injury.

Unfortunately, some McDonald’s workers are also injured during interactions with angry or unstable customers. This is rare, but these situations can turn physical and result in injuries that qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they occur during work.

Repetitive motion injuries are another concern for McDonald’s employees. Assembling food, working the register, flipping burgers, or preparing orders can involve the same hand, wrist, shoulder, or arm movements over and over throughout a shift. Over time, this repetition can lead to conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or shoulder problems.

McDonald’s Work Comp Process

Whether an injury happens suddenly or develops over time, it is important for McDonald’s employees to report the injury and get medical care as soon as possible. Early treatment is important for your health, of course, and it also creates a clear medical record linking the injury to your job. The reality is that we have seen injuries to almost every part of the body in just about any way imaginable.

McDonald’s is what is considered a self insured company which means that they pay for the costs or work comp expenses out of their own pocket. They work with a company called CCMSI to process these claims. CCMSI acts in the role of an insurance company and is who would send your checks and approve medical treatment. Having a huge client like McDonald’s is a big deal and big money client for them. So they are naturally motivated to limit what they pay out to injured workers in these cases.

The bottom line is that CCMSI is not looking out for you. They are there to protect McDonald’s. The may wrongly or illegally deny your benefits. Do not let that frustrate you and do not assume you do not have a case if they say so. They do not have your best interests at heart.

The smart thing to do is get an experienced attorney in your corner who can look out for you and protect you. This is not only the difference between winning and losing, but also can help prevent delays in medical care being approved and checks arriving on time.

We can connect you to a workers’ compensation attorney who has helped scores of McDonald’s employees. The attorney can help you report the injury, get proper medical treatment, and making sure your lost wages and medical benefits are paid. There is no upfront cost to hire a workers’ comp lawyer. Attorneys only get paid if you make a recovery and that fee is usually 20% of any settlement. If you would like a free case review, please contact us any time. We have helped McDonald’s workers all over Illinois and would love to help you.