FedEx Workers' Compensation: How to File a Claim in 2024

Every day, more than 210,000 FedEx trucks and 697 FedEx airplanes deliver 16.5 million packages. It takes a lot of heavy equipment to send millions of packages around the world, and unfortunately, sometimes people get hurt.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, FedEx’s injury rate in North America was 4.8, four times higher than the national rate of 1.2. 

If you were injured while working at FedEx, here’s everything you need to know about how workers' comp works.

What happens when you get hurt at FedEx?

If you get hurt while working at FedEx, you should immediately seek medical attention. Once you’ve received any necessary medical care, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. If your injury requires medical care or causes you to miss days of work, you can receive worker’s compensation benefits.

Worker’s comp is a no-fault system, meaning it doesn’t matter whether the injury was your fault or FedEx’s. If you get injured while on the job, you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits to cover medical costs and lost wages.

Does FedEx have workers’ compensation?

Yes, FedEx is legally required to hold workers’ compensation insurance in all states except Texas. If you were injured while working for FedEx in Texas, you should contact a lawyer to discuss your options. FedEx is insured through Indemnity Insurance Company of North America and ACE American Insurance Company.

4 Common workplace injuries as a FedEx employee

Workers’ comp isn’t just for one-time injuries, like if you slip and fall while on the clock. You may also be eligible for workers’ comp for overexertion and repetitive motion injuries. To be eligible for workers' comp, your injury must have occurred on-site or during working hours.

Here are some of the most common types of injuries FedEx employees might experience:

1. Contact with objects and equipment

Atticus’ analysis of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Severe Injury Reports found the top injury for FedEx workers is being compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment. This type of injury falls under the umbrella of “contact with objects and equipment,” which accounted for 17% of total injuries in 2020, but 21% of injuries in the transportation and warehousing sector, according to BLS data.

If you work in a FedEx warehouse, you’re likely used to working in a fast-paced environment where you might be struck by falling packages or injured by heavy-duty equipment like conveyor belts and lifts. 

Damaged equipment can increase your chances of getting hurt. In 2022, Tennessee OSHA fined FedEx for allowing workers to use damaged equipment at its World Hub in Memphis.

2. Overexertion and bodily reaction

Not all workplace injuries result from a specific incident. Some injuries happen over time. These include non-impact injuries and repetitive motion injuries, which accounted for a whopping 37% of injuries in the transportation and warehousing sector in 2020, according to the BLS.

Non-impact injuries involve excessive physical effort like heavy lifting, pushing, carrying, and throwing. Working in a FedEx warehouse or delivering packages can be physically demanding. Over time, working with heavy packages and equipment can take a toll on your body — especially your back. In 2020, the back was the most commonly injured body part in the transportation and warehousing industry.

Repetitive motion injuries, which do not require heavy lifting, are less common but can still be debilitating. Injuries due to overexertion and bodily reaction can be less obvious than, say, getting struck by a falling package or slipping on an icy shipping container, but if you have a work-related cumulative injury, you should still be eligible for benefits.

3. Falls, slips, and trips

Falls, slips, and trips can happen at almost any workplace, but they are slightly more common in the transportation and warehousing sectors. According to the BLS, these account for 23% of injuries in transportation and housing compared to 18% of injuries across industries. 

At FedEx, warehouse workers might slip on ice or liquid while loading a shipping container, and delivery workers might trip on the sidewalk while delivering a package. 

Atticus’ analysis of OSHA’s Severe Injury Reports found the top source of injury for FedEx workers is actually floors, walkways, or ground surfaces. If you slip or trip, you might become injured from the fall itself (fractures were the top incident type reported by FedEx workers) or you might hurt yourself when you catch yourself falling.

4. Transportation incidents

It comes as no surprise that the transportation and warehousing sector accounts for over a quarter of nonfatal work-related transportation injuries in the U.S. While fairly uncommon, transportation incidents can be some of the most dangerous, accounting for the vast majority of fatal injuries in the transportation and warehousing sector.

To be eligible for workers’ comp, the incident must have occurred while you were on the clock — if you were injured in the parking lot on your way to work, it likely doesn’t count. However, you don’t necessarily need to be on the work premises. If you got into a car accident while driving for FedEx, for example, you should be eligible for workers’ comp benefits.

What to do if you get hurt at FedEx

If you are a FedEx employee and get hurt while working, you are entitled to receive benefits for medical coverage and lost wage replacement. The application and claims process is as follows:

Report your injury.

Documenting the injury, preferably in writing, will help with your workers’ compensation case. If you have an accident, like being compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment (the top event of injury for FedEx workers, according to Atticus’ analysis of OSHA’s Severe Injury Reports), report the incident the same day if possible. 

If you have a cumulative injury — for example, you start experiencing severe back pain after months of lifting heavy packages — you should report the injury as soon as it interferes with your work or when a physician notices the injury.

Fill out the accident report.

FedEx works with a claims management company called Sedgwick, an intermediary hired by FedEx to review and process claims. After you’ve submitted your workers’ comp claim, Sedgwick will send you an information packet via mail or email with forms that you need to fill out. 

Every state has its own reporting timeline. For example, in California, you have up to 30 days to notify your employer, but in Wyoming, you only have 3 days. Here’s a breakdown of how long you have to report a work injury in every state. In general, you should notify FedEx and file a claim as soon as possible.

Wait for the claims adjuster’s decision.

Sedgwick will either offer you a settlement or deny your claim. Depending on your state and case, Sedgwick may pair you with medical providers for evaluation and treatment. If you disagree with Sedgwick, a lawyer can help you appeal the decision.

How much is a FedEx claim worth?

When you file a workers’ comp claim, you can get two kinds of compensation. You’ll receive compensation for your medical care, depending on the type of injury, and compensation for days you weren’t able to work, which is based on your wages and your state’s laws.

The compensation you’ll receive as a FedEx employee after a workplace injury depends on the type of injury. For example, if you have a fracture, you may need X-rays, a cast, and physical therapy, all of which FedEx’s insurance will cover. While amounts vary, there is a maximum amount you can receive. Per its insurance policy, FedEx has a $5 million limit of liability. 

In most states, you’ll receive reimbursement for the days you were unable to work due to your injury equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW) before you got hurt. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the workers’ comp pay rates in every state.

Do I need a lawyer to file a workers’ comp claim for FedEx?

No, you do not need a lawyer to apply for workers’ compensation benefits, but having a lawyer can streamline the application process and increase your settlement by five times.

If you were injured while working at FedEx, you can take this 2-minute quiz to see if you qualify for benefits. A member of our team will follow up with more information and can connect you to a representative to support your case, with no upfront costs.

Find a workers' comp lawyer near you

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Related resources:

What Is Workers' Comp & How Does It Work?

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What to Do if You're Injured at Work

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