Occupational illnesses

Los Angeles Occupational Illness Attorneys

Claims for Work-Related Illnesses & Medical Conditions

Just as workers can suffer serious, specific injuries due to one-time workplace accidents, they can also sustain debilitating illnesses and medical conditions due to cumulative trauma and poor workplace conditions. In California, the workers’ compensation system provides benefits to eligible employees who suffer occupational diseases.

If you or someone you love developed a disease or fell ill due to work-related activities or conditions, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including medical and wage replacement benefits. At the Barkhordarian Law Firm, our Los Angeles occupational illness attorneys can help you understand your options and protect your rights, including your right to fair compensation for your losses. From our office in Culver City, we have been representing workers and their families throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area for nearly a decade and have helped countless clients secure the rightful benefits they were owed.

Common Occupational Illnesses

Unfortunately, workers across all industries are susceptible to a wide range of occupational illnesses. Often, these conditions are serious enough to necessitate extensive medical treatment and prevent affected employees from returning to work temporarily—or, in severe cases, permanently. This adds immense financial hardship for individuals and families who are already struggling to cope with the physical and emotional impact of a serious diagnosis.

Some of the most common occupational illnesses include:

• Cancer
• Respiratory illnesses
• Asbestos-exposure and mesothelioma
• Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Toxic exposure
• Asthma
• Skin diseases, including contact dermatitis
• Musculoskeletal diseases
• Stress and mental health conditions
• Hearing and/or vision loss

These and other work-related illnesses and conditions are often covered by workers’ compensation. If you are an eligible employee—and most workers in California are—you are likely entitled to compensation for medical expenses related to treating your illness, wage replacement benefits for temporary and/or permanent disability, supplemental job displacement services, and more.

How Do You Prove Occupational Disease?

Unlike specific work injuries, which generally result from on-the-job accidents and one-time traumatic events, occupational illnesses can be difficult to prove. To recover workers’ compensation benefits, however, you must prove that your illness is work-related.

To prove an occupational disease did, in fact, result from your workplace environment or work-related activities, you must be able to demonstrate the following:

• The disease was caused or aggravated by working conditions/characteristics specific to your occupation
• The disease was not an “ordinary disease of life” to which members of the public are exposed
• The disease was not caused by an underlying condition or genetic factors

In other words, you must prove that you contracted the disease because of your occupation or that you were at a higher risk of developing the disease due to the nature of your work. This can be very complicated in cases involving illnesses, like cancer, that can have many underlying causes. It is not uncommon for such claims to be disputed or denied by employers and/or their insurance companies.

Recovering Workers’ Compensation for an Occupational Illness

In California, occupational illnesses are covered by workers’ compensation. However, recovering your rightful benefits can be challenging without the help of an experienced attorney. Your employer or their insurance company may dispute your claim, arguing that your illness was not work-related but, rather, caused by outside, unrelated factors. Additionally, occupational diseases are often not immediately diagnosed, meaning you may not have initially realized that your medical condition was related to your occupation. As a result, the insurance company may question why you didn’t file a claim right away.

It is important that you work with a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer when pursuing a claim for benefits for a work-related illness. At the Barkhordarian Law Firm, our Los Angeles occupational disease attorneys understand the many complexities and nuances inherent in these types of claims, and we know how to help you navigate the legal process. Our goal is to secure the maximum benefits to which you are entitled so that you can get back on your feet and move forward with your life.

Schedule a Complimentary Case Evaluation with Our Team

The Barkhordarian Law Firm has been aggressively advocating for the rights of California workers. We develop close, personal relationships with our clients, providing consistent communication and individual attention every step of the way. Our team strives to move your case through the system as quickly and efficiently as possible, all while fighting for the maximum benefits you deserve.

Our bilingual staff can assist you in English and Spanish, and we do not collect any attorneys’ fees unless/until we secure benefits on your behalf. Do not hesitate to reach out to our firm today to schedule a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation.