Compensation For Occupational Diseases And Illnesses
What if you get sick at work? Will workers’ compensation benefits cover these illnesses and the recovery involved? What is the legal process involved?
These are important questions for anyone who might have contracted a disease or illness in the workplace. The critical first step if you are in this situation is to contact an experienced lawyer who can assess your case and help you through the process. The Law Offices of T. Andrew Miller, LLC, represents clients in all types of work-related injury claims throughout Atlanta and the surrounding areas of Georgia.
What Is An Occupational Disease?
An occupational disease is a disease or serious illness that occurs as a result of the employee’s working environment or tasks. Occupations that can be high risk for an occupational disease include:
- Health care: Of course, more than any other occupation, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are exposed every day to communicable diseases and illnesses. From COVID-19 to the common flu or HIV, health care workers are in constant danger of contracting an occupational disease.
- Construction work and factory work: These occupations are particularly at risk for occupational hearing loss, due to the extended exposure to high noise volumes from the tools and machinery used. Contract construction work in residential and commercial buildings can also be a high-risk factor for mesothelioma, which results from extended exposure to asbestos.
- Cleaning occupations: Allergic or irritant dermatitis is one of the most common occupational diseases. Almost any type of occupation can involve exposure to the agents that can cause dermatitis, but the most common occupations for irritant dermatitis include launderers, dishwashers and hotel cleaning services.
These are just a few common examples of high-risk occupations. If you are ill and you think it might be a result of your occupation, talk with a lawyer right away.
How Can I Obtain Compensation For An Occupational Disease Or Illness?
The biggest challenge in obtaining compensation for an occupational disease is establishing that the disease was contracted at work, not anywhere else. For an occupational disease to qualify you for workers’ compensation benefits, it must be something that is particular to your occupation, the work environment or the specific tasks you perform. If the disease or illness you contracted is something that you could have picked up anywhere outside of your work, it might be extremely difficult to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
The best thing you can do is talk with an experienced attorney. T. Andrew Miller will look over your situation, help you understand your options and fight to help you get the benefits you need.
To schedule a consultation, call 678-605-9109 or contact the firm online today.