Work-related injuries can develop for a variety of reasons. The most common are acute injuries that occur as a result of an accident like a fall or malfunctioning equipment. However, physical traumatic injuries aren’t the only type of injury that are covered under workers’ compensation law. Diseases that come about as a direct result of your work duties can also lead to wage loss benefits and medical expense reimbursement. In today’s blog, we explain how occupational diseases are covered under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.
Types Of Compensable Occupational Diseases
Occupational diseases can develop in a myriad of ways, so many cases are unique and would benefit from being argued by an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. These occupational diseases can lead to immediate health problems, or they can develop years down the road, even after you’ve left or retired from that position. Again, it’s helpful to have a lawyer by your side for these types of cases because not only do you have to prove that the medical condition exists, but that your work duties played a direct role in the onset of your health condition.
An occupational disease claim may become a little more clear if we provide some examples of types of diseases and conditions that could lead to injury compensation. This is far from a complete list, but some of the more common occupational diseases that we’ve helped secure compensation for include:
- Asbestos
- Lung diseases
- Certain types of cancers
- Blood diseases
- Silicosis
- Health problems related to chemical exposure or inhalation
Breathing-related illnesses are the most common type of occupational disease. For example, if you inhale asbestos, silica or toxic chemicals that lead to the development of lung cancer, you can file for injury benefits if this exposure occurred as a result of your work duties.
Occupational diseases also have their own set of rules when it comes to deadlines and reporting requirements. A non-occupational disease-related injury must be reported soon after the incident, but occupational diseases are handled a little differently because you may not be aware that you were exposed at the time of the incident. According to Minnesota law, an individual has three years to file their occupational disease injury claim from the date that their disease was discovered and determined to be work-related.
So if you’ve been diagnosed with black lung after working for a mining company or your lung cancer has been linked to chemical exposure in the workplace, you should contact a lawyer and get the ball rolling on your claim. Three years may seem like a long time, but the sooner you file your claim, the easier it will be to collect evidence and put forth a strong case. Don’t waste time when you could be collecting compensation you’re entitled to receive for a work-related incident.
If you have been diagnosed with a health condition and are unsure if it is linked to a previous job, or you know that it has been and you’re wondering what your legal options are, reach out to Dean and the experienced team at Margolis Law Office today. We can help explain your options and develop a case that gets you the compensation you deserve. For more information or to learn about your potential eligibility, give Margolis Law Office a call today at (952) 230-2700.
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