If you are suffering from pain or a lasting condition as a result of your job, there are steps you can take to seek compensation and cover the cost of rehabilitation. At Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh, our lawyers will advocate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the medical attention and accommodations you need to continue on in your life, get back to work if possible, and stay solvent as you recover and move toward reaching the best quality of life given your illness, injury, or occupational disease. Contact us at 732-440-3950 for a consultation to discuss your claim.
Occupational illnesses can have various negative impacts on the lives of the people they affect. They can take months or even years to manifest as symptoms, by which point many have worked their way deep into physical systems, causing irreparable damage. As a result of early and late onset diseases caused by workplace conditions, victims can lose the ability to function at full capacity in both personal and professional senses.
Some of the common risk factors associated with the onset of occupational diseases are exposure to hazardous chemicals, contaminants, gas, or infectious diseases. A wide variety of inorganic and organic substances can be toxic and cause chronic illness when handled, especially over time. Individuals who come into regular contact with any of these elements are more at risk of developing an occupational disease. Workers in the waste industries, medical health care settings, laboratory research institutions, animal care industries, gyms, salons, and residence facilities of all types are likely to come into contact with dangerous substances. Pulmonary issues are also very common in public works employees and construction workers. Breathing in chemicals and airborne substances for a significant period of time can trigger respiratory or circulatory issues.
There are many medical conditions and diseases that may result from exposure in the workplace or while performing one’s job, including viral infections, infectious diseases, chronic lung disease, asbestosis and mesothelioma, work-induced asthma, and certain forms of cancer.
Occupational illness can also develop over time due to repetitive motions. While blood borne pathogens, viruses, cancers, and bacteria are more likely to impact the workers above, other types of professions also carry inherent risk for occupational illness resulting from repeated movements. Surgeons, dentists, secretaries, construction workers, factory workers, and others who practice various forms of manual labor may experience the development of an occupational disease. One of the most common forms of repetitive stress injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is often found in those working in administrative roles, such as secretaries or administrative assistants. Years of typing and working on a keyboard can cause chronic pain.
Moreover, it is not uncommon for police officers to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, as a result of traumatic and high-stress situations.
In order for an individual to receive workers’ compensation benefits for an occupational disease, their illness must have resulted directly from their employment and the work they have done. Essentially, to qualify for workers’ compensation, an occupational illness or condition must be caused by the responsibilities associated with an employee’s job, or the place of employment itself directly caused the worker’s illness.
The first thing to do if you believe you may have an occupation-related disease is to seek immediate medical care. Getting a diagnosis for your illness as soon as possible will help direct your care as well as your workers’ compensation claim. Upon receiving a diagnosis, notify your employer. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible for sound legal guidance on how to move forward with a workers’ compensation claim. Document your work environment and any hazardous exposures you have had during your employment. As you receive medical care for your illness, keep a detailed record of medical treatments and expenses.
It is especially important to seek the professional help of a qualified workers’ compensation attorney in the case of an occupational illness. Medical expenses and long-term care associated with occupational diseases are substantial, so making sure that you are compensated as fully as possible for your work-related illness is essential. Additionally, because occupational diseases develop over time and generally don’t stem from one specific incident or accident, it can be difficult to prove that one’s job responsibilities or work environment directly caused the long-term illness. Because of the costs associated with long-term, or permanent, disability benefits, an employer’s workers’ compensation carrier will typically do all in their capacity to limit an employee’s access to full benefits. This is why you need an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to fight on your behalf and help you navigate the common obstacles in cases involving occupational diseases.
To learn more about the options available to you in seeking treatment for your occupational illness, work exposure-related disease, or repetitive stress injury, please contact a Monmouth County occupational illness attorney at our West Long Branch, New Jersey, law firm today at 732-440-3950 or toll free at 888-328-9131. Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh proudly assists harmed workers in recovering just compensation for their job-related injuries and we will go to work for you to ensure you get the care and financial support you need in the face of an occupational disease. Our team serves the entirety of the Monmouth County and Ocean County region, including clients in Red Bank, Toms River, Howell, Point Pleasant, Middletown, Colts Neck, and Freehold. Reach out to us today to get a head start on your claim.