Mall Worker Injuries
Shopping malls first opened in the United States in the 1950s, and according to Business Insider, “by the 1980s, the mall had become the center of American social life and accounted for the bulk of retail sales.” Given that malls were the primary place that most Americans, and most Floridians, shopped, they also employed people in many different types of jobs. Workers were employed by individual stores, movie theaters, and restaurants in malls, as well as by the malls themselves to perform maintenance work, custodial work, and other similar jobs. While Business Insider underscores that the “rise of online shopping” and other factors have led to “the decline of the American mall,” there are still a number of malls in South Florida where people shop and work.
In the Fort Lauderdale area alone, the Galleria, Westfield Broward, Coral Ridge Mall, and the Gallery at Beach Place are all shopping malls or shopping centers where employees work, and where employees can get hurt on the job. Most mall workers can be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage when they sustain a work-related injury and meet other requirements under Florida law. An experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation attorney at our firm can provide you with additional information.
Common Injuries for Mall Workers
Depending upon the type of retail store where a person works or the type of job they perform for a mall, it is possible to sustain many different kinds of injuries on the job. The following are some common types of accidents or circumstances in which a mall worker can get hurt:
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents;
- Falls from heights;
- Struck-by accidents involving stocking and merchandise, or vehicles;
- Cuts and lacerations from encounters with products;
- Exposure to hazardous substances;
- Repetitive motion injuries caused by repetitive tasks such as running a cash register;
- Overuse injuries resulting from heavy lifting; and
- Assault-related injuries caused by customers.
Determining Your Employer
When you work at a mall in South Florida and suffer an injury, you will need to know who your employer is — and whether your employer is required to have workers’ compensation coverage — in order to seek compensation. Many mall workers are employed by individual retail stores, and the retail store will be required to have workers’ compensation. In some cases, a worker is employed directly by the mall, and the mall will likely be required to have workers’ compensation coverage.
In general, any employer with four or more employees in Florida must have coverage.
Report Your Injury and Seek Medical Care
After a work injury at a mall or shopping center, report your injury to your employer immediately (but within 30 days maximum), and seek care from an approved health care provider.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Were you injured while working at a mall or shopping center in South Florida? It will be important to get in touch with an experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. who can help you to determine the steps you need to take in order to be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. Do not hesitate to contact us for assistance with your workers’ compensation case.
Sources:
businessinsider.com/shopping-mall-rise-fall-timeline-1950s-to-today-2023-1#:~:text=By%20the%201980s%2C%20the%20mall,decline%20of%20the%20American%20mall
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440.html
myfloridacfo.com/division/wc/employer/coverage-requirements
