Did your work make you sick? You could claim certain benefits.

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2017 | Workers' Compensation |

When Illinois workers experience an injury at work, they know that they could have a valid claim to workers’ compensation benefits. However, you could have a claim to this type of financial support if your work made you sick. Just as workplace injuries can be valid reasons to seek these types of benefits, occupational diseases can be as well.

If you believe that your job made you sick or that you faced exposure to toxic elements because of your job, eventually causing sickness, you could have a rightful claim. You would be wise to take quick action to protect your interests, which could include seeking guidance as you work to navigate the claims process and seek the benefits you deserve.

The ways your job could make you sick

Technically, every person who works could encounter something harmful over the course of his or her career. However, there are certain types of jobs that have a higher chance of toxic exposure. Working with dangerous chemicals, in health care or on construction sites, could expose workers to things that could make them sick. There are various different types of occupational illnesses, but some of the most common include:

  • Hearing loss, such as partial or complete loss of hearing abilities
  • Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, silicosis, acute congestion, reactive airway disease and many more
  • Disorders of the skin, such as dermatitis, ulcers and eczema
  • Poisoning, such as lead poisoning or carbon monoxide poisoning

Toxic exposure can come in many forms. You could touch something that can lead to skin problems, or perhaps you breathed in dangerous material that led to a serious illness years later. No matter how it happened or the type of occupational disease you have, victims of dangerous conditions and toxic exposure in the workplace have the right to seek certain benefits.

What kind of recovery can you get?

After learning that you have an occupational illness, your main concern is likely securing the medical care and financial support you need to get better and get back to work as soon as possible.

If you have a valid workers’ compensation claim, you may be able to get the benefits you need to compensate you for medical care, a portion of your lost wages and even rehabilitation needs. You can protect your right to seek these benefits by taking quick action to file a claim. From the initial claim to any necessary appeals, you do not have to deal with the legal aspects of dealing with your occupational disease on your own.

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