Occupational Diseases Attorney Lawrence
Law Firm with Offices in Hamilton and Pennington, New Jersey
Workers’ compensation is not limited to workers who suffer traumatic injuries while performing job-related duties. A worker who contracts an occupational illness or disease may also be entitled to workers’ comp benefits in New Jersey. Many occupational diseases develop over time when a worker is repeatedly exposed to dangerous substances or stressful conditions. If you have required medical treatment or have been forced to miss time from work because of a job-related illness, you might have a valid claim for workers’ compensation. Unfortunately, employers and their insurance companies often challenge workers’ comp claims based on occupational disease because these types of injuries are not nearly as clear-cut as traumatic injuries suffered in the workplace. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you prove your claim and get the compensation you deserve.
Work Diseases Ewing NJ
Know your rights – Call today
Cohen & Riechelson is a well-respected law firm that has been serving clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 1972. During that time, our lawyers have helped injured workers file workers’ compensation claims throughout Mercer County, including Hightstown, Ewing, and West Windsor. We have important ties to the community, as well as a wealth of experience and local contacts; this gives us an edge in your case because we have specialized institutional knowledge. Call CR now to discuss your workers’ comp claim and explore your legal options.
Types of Occupational Diseases in Mercer County, NJ
An occupational disease is any illness with conditions which are caused, or worsened, by exposure in the workplace. This means that workplace conditions are directly responsible for the occupational illness. Occupational illnesses can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the air. When workers inhale or ingest these substances, or get them on their skin, they can suffer long-term negative health consequences. This is especially problematic when the worker breathes dust or fumes for years.
Some of the most common occupational illnesses suffered by workers in New Jersey include:
- Cancer: Exposure to any kind of toxic agents in the work environment can cause potentially life-threatening cancer.
- Asbestosis and Mesothelioma: If you are exposed to asbestos fibers in the workplace, you could develop a chronic inflammatory disease of your respiratory system. In the worst cases, you could develop an aggressive form of lung cancer.
- Pulmonary & Respiratory Illness: A lung injury could result in a severe cough and chronic chest pain.
- Asthma: Certain lung injuries can cause asthma, which will probably require you to use an inhaler for the rest of your life.
- Lead Poisoning: Exposure to any amount of lead over a long period of time can have serious health consequences. In the worst cases, exposure to high levels of lead can be fatal.
- Eye Disease: If your job requires you to handle food, you could develop allergic conjunctivitis. This is eye inflammation caused by an allergic reaction to certain substances.
- Hearing Loss: Continued exposure to loud noises in the workplace can result in permanent hearing loss.
- Repetitive Stress Injury: One of the most common occupational diseases is a repetitive stress injury like carpal tunnel syndrome. This kind of injury is caused by the cumulative effect of repetitive movements and stress on a worker’s body. Any job that requires repeated lifting can result in a repetitive stress injury.
- Mental Disorder: Extremely stressful conditions in the workplace can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Workers’ Comp Benefits for Occupational Illness in Lawrence, NJ
In order to receive workers’ comp benefits for an occupational disease, you must show that the disease was caused by your job. Since occupational diseases typically do not stem from a single incident and instead develop over a long period of time, it can be difficult to isolate a date on which the illness developed. This is important for the purposes of New Jersey workers’ compensation claims because the law imposes very strict deadlines for filing a claim.
Contact a Princeton NJ Workers’ Comp Attorney
Cohen & Riechelson is prepared to assist you with your workers’ compensation claim. Additionally, we handle all workers’ comp cases on a contingency fee basis; we only get paid after you receive compensation for your illness. Call CR today to speak with a member of our legal team, or email us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at our Hamilton or Pennington offices.
