Workers can get seriously hurt no matter what type of job they have. Restaurant and other food service worker injuries may not make the news like construction site accidents. But they can be very serious and debilitating to the victim.
Injuries in the food service industry are quite common. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, workers in food service and drinking places (i.e., bars and restaurants) suffered 77.9 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers. For “special food services,” meaning contractors, caterers and food truck workers, the rate leaps to 107.6. The most common categories of injuries are:
- Sprains, strains and tears
- Cuts, lacerations and punctures
- Bone fractures
Many of these injuries are more or less unavoidable, such as repetitive stress injuries caused by lifting and carrying food or drinks to customers dozens of times a shift over several years. But negligent third parties can also cause or contribute to dangerous situations for workers. For example, a poorly manufactured or repaired grill can start a fire, burning a worker or forcing them to inhale smoke. A drunk driver could crash into a food truck, injuring the employees inside.
Third-party claims based on work accidents
When someone else’s misconduct is a factor in your workplace injury, you could be able to seek compensation from a third-party claim. This is a form of personal injury litigation that supplements workers’ compensation benefits in cases of third-party negligence. Third-party liability is not a factor in every workplace injury. It depends on the particular facts of what happened to you. Discuss your injuries with your attorney to determine if a third party contributed to them in some way.