Getting Workers’ Compensation for an Occupational Illness
Though most people tend to associate workers’ compensation with injuries suffered on the job, the workers’ compensation laws in every state also provide benefits for illness or injury contracted at work or because of work conditions. Typically, workplace illness stems from months or years of exposure to certain conditions. Because it’s difficult to point to a single event that caused the illness, occupational disease claims are customarily more difficult to get approved.
The Typical Forms of Occupational Illness or Disease
To successfully file a claim for benefits for an occupational illness, you generally must show that you were exposed to something that caused the condition, such as:
- Fumes containing toxic chemicals or other substances, including carcinogens
- Dust or other particulates, from silica to wood dust to crop dust
- Fibers, such as insulation, asbestos or cloth fibers
- Pressure, stress or anxiety that caused hypertension, stroke or heart disease
If you have health problems, and you believe that your work environment may have contributed to or exacerbated them, the first thing you need to do is get medical treatment. Explain your symptoms and your work conditions to your doctor. If your doctor concludes that your condition was caused or aggravated by your job, you should immediately notify your supervisor, and see if there is any way you can continue work without risk of further injury or illness. You may be required to wear protective gear, or you may have to be retrained to handle a different job.
If your doctor concludes that your illness is work-related, you should immediately file a workers’ compensation claim. If your illness was caused by exposure to a chemical substance, you may also be able to file a lawsuit in court against the manufacturer (what is known as a third-party claim).
Contact Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P. A., Attorneys at Law
Contact us by e-mail or call our office at 856-429-1700. Your initial consultation is free.
We take all personal injury claims on a contingency basis. You won’t be charged any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses.
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