Most employees know that if they have an accident or suffer an injury on the job that they have the legal right to seek financial benefits from their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, did you know that you may be able to obtain benefits for certain work-related illnesses, as well? While there are strict criteria for an illness to qualify you for benefits, such benefits can be critical to your financial future as you recover from your illness. Some common illnesses that may result in benefits include:
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Heart conditions
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Hypertension
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Illness from toxic exposure to mold, asbestos, or chemicals
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Black lung disease
Proving Your Illness is Work-Related
If you were exposed to toxic chemicals at work and became sick as a result, you need to prove that your illness resulted from your work duties. However, it is not that easy in many scenarios and a primary challenge that ill workers face is proving that their illnesses stemmed from their work. For example, if you contracted a respiratory condition from the environment at work, your employer may try to claim that the condition is common outside the workplace and that you actually contracted it from other circumstances in your home or elsewhere. Unless you can prove that your illness was caused by your job duties, you will not receive the benefits you deserve.
Proving the Extent of Your Illness
Some illnesses may require a course of antibiotics before you are recovered. However, other illnesses can have long-lasting effects on your life and require ongoing treatment. In order for workers’ compensation to cover all of your medical expenses, you must show that the treatment you are receiving is necessary and appropriate for your particular diagnosis. In addition, in order to receive partial wage replacement, you must show that your time away from work was justified as part of your recovery.
Contact a Hartford, CT Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
While proving a work-related illness may not be as simple as an acute injury sustained at work, you still deserve to receive full benefits if your illness stemmed from your job. The Connecticut workers’ compensation attorneys at Leighton, Katz & Drapeau are here to help you prove your claim, so call today at 860-875-7000 for a free consultation.
1http://wcc.state.ct.us/law/menus/wc-act-2015.htm
2http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/basics/definition/con-20026157
