Lawyer for Workplace Injuries at JBS Beef

JBS Beef is a huge employer in Souderton, with thousands of workers harvesting animals, processing beef, and backing and shipping beef to customers.  In meat processing plants, there are so many opportunities for injuries, and when – not if, but when – injuries happen, the victims should be entitled to have their injuries and medical care covered.

Our attorneys fight for injured workers, making the Workers’ Compensation system work for them.  If you need coverage for your injuries, medical care, and lost wages after an injury at JBS Beef, our lawyers can take your case, represent you in negotiations against your employer and their insurance carrier, and even take issues before the courts to get you the benefits you are supposed to receive.

For a free review of your case, contact our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Specialists at Cardamone Law by dialing (267) 651-7945.

Common Workplace Injuries at JBS Beef in Souderton, PA

At a meat processing facility like JBS, there are many opportunities for injury.  From working directly with cattle to using knives and saws to break down primals to moving and carrying processed beef for shipping, the following are some of the most common injuries.

Severe Cuts and Amputation Injuries

Meat processing often involves accidental stabs and cuts.  The tools you use at work are meant to cut meat and bone, and they can do just as much damage to you as they can to the steer they are intended to break down.  Even experienced workers make mistakes that can hurt themselves or their neighbors on the line.

From saws to knives, these tools can leave you with deep cuts and amputation or partial amputation injuries that need surgical repair and lead to time away from work.  Especially with a cut on your hands or arms, it might be difficult to get back to work until the injury heals.  If you lost a finger or otherwise suffered a traumatic amputation, you could be entitled to many weeks away from work or unable to return altogether.  Even if the amputation was repaired at the hospital, this could lead to quite expensive medical care and a long time away from work that you need replacement wages for.

Back Injuries

Whether you are lifting meat, moving heavy sides of beef along a track, or moving processed items to shipping and loading, the strain on your back is often quite a lot.  Especially if you already have back problems, an acute injury could leave you laid up for weeks.  In some cases, something like a herniated disc or some other severe back injury might require surgery to repair, leading to expensive hospital bills and a longer recovery time, during which you cannot work.  Our lawyers for workplace injuries at JBS Beef can help you recover benefits to cover these medical bills and lost earnings.

Crush Injuries

The animals and machinery that you work with each pose a risk of crush injuries.  Heavy animals stepping on or being dropped on your foot or legs could cause a broken bone or torn ligament.  Machinery could crush your arms or hands if they get caught in the way of moving parts.  In either case, these injuries could require a trip to the hospital, time away to heal, and potentially ongoing limitations if the injury resulted in lost function in the affected area.

Benefits for Injured JBS Workers Through Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation is designed to cover workers when they suffer injuries at work.  Unlike a lawsuit, Workers’ Comp claims have no requirement for you to prove whose fault the accident was, allowing you to get compensation whether the accident was caused by a coworker, your employer, working conditions, an animal, or even your own mistakes.

When you file a claim for Workers’ Comp, your employer files with their insurance carrier, and this often leads to the claim being processed and approved or denied without much involvement from you.  Our lawyers can intercede and make sure that, apart from your initial reporting of the accident, your employer’s carrier has all the rest of the information about what injuries you suffered, what a medical exam showed regarding how long it will take before you can return to work, and what expenses should be covered.

Overall, Workers’ Comp claims should cover both the medical costs – including any costs for physical therapy, mental health therapy, medical imaging, hospital stays, and medication – as well as a portion of your lost wages.  The medical bills should be paid in full, but wage-loss damages are issued to cover an amount that is typically 2/3 of your average weekly wage.  This can vary a bit, with workers who make under a certain threshold receiving more than 2/3 and up to 90% of their lost wages.  However, this is also subject to a cap equal to the statewide weekly average wage – which is $1,325 per week in 2024.

How Our Lawyers Can Help Fight for Benefits for Injuries at JBS Beef

Just because Workers’ Comp rules say that any work-related injury should be covered by your employer’s insurance does not mean that JBS Beef or their insurance carrier will be willing to accept the claim and pay damages without a fight.  Our lawyers can stand up for you and challenge any denials or questionable behavior from your employer or their insurance carrier to try to get these benefits covered in full.

First, our lead attorney is a specialist in the area of Workers’ Compensation – a label that requires advanced work and certification in this field of law.  This is the only area of law we practice, with a focus on getting injured workers compensation through this system.  Second, our attorneys personally handle your case, from talking with doctors and your employer to filing motions in court to get benefits paid.  Third, we can advise you on your rights and help you understand what the legal effects of returning to work or taking another job are and how these decisions might hurt your benefits or knock you down to receiving partial benefits instead.

Call Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Injuries at JBS Beef

If you were hurt while working for JBS Beef, call our lawyers for workplace injuries at JBS Beef at Cardamone Law today at (267) 651-7945 for your free case review.