Can You Qualify for Benefits If You Get Sick Because of Your Job?
When you’ve been injured in an accident on the job, seeking workers’ compensation benefits may seem pretty straightforward. In New Jersey, as in all states, to qualify for benefits, you must only show that you were hurt and that your injury occurred in the course of your employment. But what happens if you become ill, and you believe that your disease or illness was caused or aggravated by conditions on the job? Can you still seek workers’ comp benefits? What must you show?
Will Workers’ Compensation Cover Lost Wages and Medical Expenses Resulting from an Occupational Illness in New Jersey?
Yes. The New Jersey workers’ compensation laws allow workers to recover benefits when they become ill because of exposure to conditions or substances in the workplace. To recover benefits for an occupational disease or illness, you must demonstrate that:
- The conditions at your place of employment have been documented to cause the type of illness you suffer; for example, there is evidence that employees have contracted mesothelioma as the result of exposure to certain toxic substances on the job;
- As a part of your required duties, you were exposed to the conditions and/or substances that have been shown to cause the illness you suffer;
- You did not have a pre-existing condition; and
- You were not exposed to conditions or substances outside of work that may have caused your illness.
Typical Workplace Illness Claims That Qualify for Workers’ Compensation
Workers in New Jersey have successfully recovered workers’ comp benefits for a wide range of illnesses arising out of the workplace, including:
- Cancer
- Lung and respiratory disease, including mesothelioma and asthma
- Hearing or vision loss
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stress disorders
- Infectious diseases, including viruses
Contact the Cintron Firm
At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.