If you become ill because of an event or exposure in your workplace, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. This may true even if the event or exposure merely aggravated a condition but did not cause it. At De Ita, Lowe & Wald, LLP, we serve as staunch advocates of workers who suffer occupational illnesses in California and diligently work to maximize their benefits.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recordable cases of occupational diseases are those that result in missed work, restricted work activity, medical treatment or even death. If your case involves any of these damages, you may be eligible for compensation for medical care, continued rehabilitation, lost wages or temporary disability. If you lost a loved one to an occupational illness, you may be able to recover to death benefits.
The type of benefits which you may recover depends on a number of factors, including the nature of your illness, the affected body part, the source of the injury, and the number of missed work days. Some types of occupational illnesses for which you may recover compensation include the following:
Poisoning
Respiratory conditions
Hearing loss
Skin diseases or disorders
Effects of environmental heath
Effects of exposure to low temperatures
If you or a loved one contracted an illness due to an exposure or event in the workplace, it is imperative that you act quickly to protect your interests in workers’ compensation benefits. Ideally, you should begin the claims process as soon after discovering the illness as possible.
More information regarding recovery for occupational illnesses is available on our web page.