Workers’ Compensation benefits are available to workers who become ill or injured in a work-related accident. Work-related conditions can be injuries resulting from a single, isolated incident, or a chronic, long-term illness caused by ongoing conditions or environmental factors at the job site.
Occupational diseases are caused by exposure to a host of different clinical, physical, and psychosocial hazards, some being less obvious than others. Employees seeking Workers’ Compensation benefits must prove the connection between workplace hazards and chronic illnesses. A skilled Workers’ Compensation lawyer is the best resource for tackling complex work-related illness claims and ensuring workers receive the benefits they deserve. The most common occupational diseases impacting worker health and well-being include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Often the result of ongoing, repetitive motions, carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness and reduced function in the wrist and hand as nerves in the carpal tunnel become compressed.
- Cancer: Exposure to a host of hazardous materials and carcinogens in labs, factories, and construction sites causes cancerous changes to the body over time. Mesothelioma is an incurable lung cancer many workers suffer from due to asbestos exposure.
- Computer Vision Syndrome: Workers using digital screens for long periods of time experience headaches, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain.
- Hearing loss: Hearing loss is the most common occupational disease impacting workers in the United States and is generally irreversible and severely impacts a person’s quality of life.
- Poisoning: Ingestion or absorption of hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, carbon monoxide, gases, and other chemicals into the body causes toxicity and a host of potentially fatal symptoms.
- Respiratory diseases: Breathing in dust, fumes, vapors, and gases causes several serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis.
- Radiation Sickness: This is a serious and often fatal condition resulting from acute or chronic exposure to large amounts of radiation. Symptoms and prognosis vary depending upon the levels of exposure, but can include vomiting, headaches, and rapid heartbeat.
- Skin diseases: Occupational skin diseases potentially affect more than 13 million United States workers who encounter chemicals that can be absorbed into their skin. Occupational skin diseases include highly treatable conditions, such as eczema and more serious cancers requiring advanced care.
Delaware workers have six months from the time they become aware they have an occupational disease to report it to their employer and a year to file a Workers’ Compensation claim. Workers with other types of injuries have two years to file a claim.
Bear DE Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow Represent Clients with Occupational Diseases
If you suffered from a work accident, you are entitled to benefits for your medical care and lost income while you are unable to work. The Bear DE Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow understand the unique challenges of Workers’ Compensation claims. Call us at (302) 600-1107 or complete an online inquiry to schedule a free consultation today. With locations in Bear, Wilmington, and Milford, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Elsmere and Seaford.
