Help for Injured Hotel Workers in Delaware

New hotels are popping up all over Delaware. If you get hurt while working in one of these establishments, Silverman, McDonald & Friedman wants to help. Call us in Newark, Seaford, or Wilmington to schedule a consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer today.

Delaware’s building boom is continuing, and hotel growth is at the center of that expansion. Hotel developers are hoping to persuade investors to continue this growth by focusing on the ability of hotels to connect with local business such as the Chase Center. Hotels are also an attraction for Delaware’s beaches which attract many tourists.

According to Delaware Online, two hotels in Wilmington, Hyatt Place and a Homestead Suites, recently opened up after a legal battle. Tru by Hilton built a 90-room hotel on US 113. Tru By Hotel is brand that tries to cater to millennials.

Workers’ compensation for hotel workers

Hotels hire numerous people for a variety of jobs. As long as the worker is an employee and not a contractor, he or she may be entitled to make a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Generally speaking, eligible employees may include:

• Administration staff
• Customer service personnel
• Marketing staff
• Cleaning and janitorial staff
• Waiters and/or bartenders a hotel-owned restaurant or bar
• Bell hops, valets, and other members of the staff

For many of these jobs, there are serious risks of various musculoskeletal disorders. Maids and cleaning crews are constantly lifting, puling, pushing, and carrying objects. All workers are at risk of falling down over tripped objects, spilled liquids, torn carpets, and flights of stairs. Many workers are susceptible to repetitive stress injuries such as by repeatedly cleaning mirrors or waxing floors, or running back and forth between different rooms and parking garages, than can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and other stress injuries.

Many hotel workers seek medical help for pain in their back, neck, and spine. Hotel workers also seek help for factures, sprains, stains, muscle damage, disc damage, and a range of other complications. Knee and shoulder injuries are also quite common.

The good news is that hotel workers who are injured on the job can generally apply for workers’ compensation benefits in Delaware if they were an employee of the hotel when the accident occurred and the accident caused their injuries. There is no requirement by the injured worker to prove the hospital was negligent.

When hotel workers are injured, they have the right to demand payment for:

• Medical costs. All necessary and reasonable medical bills including surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and emotional therapy. Workers’ compensation should also cover your medicines and the cost for any medical devices
• Temporary disability. Generally, employees who qualify for workers’ compensation, are entitled to 2/3 of their average weekly wage during the time they are out of work
• Partial disability. Workers may be entitled to permanent disability if they return to work with job restrictions at a lower salary
• Permanent disability. For serious injuries such as an amputation, workers may be entitled to a permanent disability payment.

Workers who did physical labor but can now, no longer, do physical labor may also be entitled to vocational benefits. Vocational expenses include the cost to be retrained to do a different less-strenuous job.

Hotel work is hard work. The hours are long. There are constant demands from supervisors and from hotel guests. When injuries happen, which prevent you from earning a learning, the Delaware workers’ compensation lawyers at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman have the experience and resources to help hotel workers get the help they need. To schedule a free appointment, call us at 302-888-2900 or use our contact form. We have offices in Wilmington, Newark, and Seaford.