Best Southern California Occupational Disease Lawyers
Not all occupational injuries are readily obvious. Sometimes the harm does not become apparent for years. That does not make the damage any less severe and does not absolve the employer of responsibility.
Workers can develop chronic illnesses and medical issues due to cumulative trauma and poor employment conditions. Many times these illnesses don’t develop until the worker leaves his employment. However, injured workers are still entitled to file Workers’ Compensation cases.
Suppose you or someone you care about became ill or contracted a disease as a result of work-related activities or conditions. In that case, they are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which include medical care and monetary compensation for lost time at work. Our Los Angeles Workers’ Compensation lawyers at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker can help you understand your alternatives and safeguard your rights, including your entitlement to fair compensation for your losses. For over 50 years, we have represented workers and their families throughout California and helped many clients collect the rightful benefits they were entitled to.
Frequent Occupational Illnesses
Unfortunately, workers in all occupations are vulnerable to a variety of occupational ailments. These disorders are frequently severe enough to demand substantial medical care and prohibit affected employees from returning to work for an extended period of time—or, in severe circumstances, permanently. This adds a significant financial burden to individuals and families already dealing with a catastrophic diagnosis’s physical and emotional consequences.
Among the most prevalent occupational ailments are:
- Cancer
- Respiratory Illnesses
- Asbestos-Exposure and Mesothelioma
- Repetitive Motion Injuries (Such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendonitis)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Toxic Exposure
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Disease
- Heart Disease
- Leukemia and Blood Cancers
- Skin Cancer
- Asthma
- Skin Diseases, Including Contact Dermatitis
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
- Stress and Mental Health Conditions
- Hearing and/or Vision Loss
Workers’ compensation often covers these and other work-related illnesses and conditions. If you are a qualifying employee—and most California workers are—you may be entitled to reimbursement for medical expenditures incurred while treating your illness, wage replacement benefits for temporary and/or permanent disability, supplemental job displacement services, and other benefits.
How Can I Prove Occupational Disease To File A Claim?
Unlike specific work injuries, occupational illnesses can be challenging to prove. We recommend that you take legal action as soon as you discover that there is even a remote chance your illness is caused by your work.
To prove that your office environment or work-related activities caused an occupational sickness, you must be able to show the following:
- Working conditions/characteristics peculiar to your occupation caused or aggravated the sickness.
- The ailment was not a “normal disease of life” to which the general public was exposed.
In other words, you must demonstrate that you developed the disease due to your work or that the nature of your work puts you at a higher risk of developing the disease. This can be especially difficult in cases involving illnesses with multiple underlying causes, such as cancer. Employers and/or their insurance providers frequently dispute or deny such claims.
Claiming Workers’ Compensation for a Workplace Illness
Workers’ Compensation covers occupational ailments in California. Without the assistance of an expert lawyer, obtaining your compensation might be difficult. Your employer may contest your claim, claiming your illness was caused by work-related causes. Furthermore, occupational diseases are not always promptly identified, so you may not have realized your medical condition was related to your job. Therefore, the insurance company may inquire as to why you did not make a claim immediately.
When pursuing a claim for benefits for a work-related illness, you must consult with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer. Our Southern California Workers’ Compensation lawyers at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker understand the complexity and nuances of these types of claims, and we know how to help you navigate the legal procedure. Our objective is to ensure that you receive all of the benefits to which you are entitled so that you may get back on your feet and move on with your life.
Call For A Free Case Evaluation
Our Team The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker has been an advocate for California workers’ rights. We cultivate intimate relationships with our clients, ensuring regular communication and special attention. Our team works hard to get your case through the system as fast as possible while fighting for the full rewards. Call 866-536-5788 and speak to a Southern California occupational disease lawyer today.
