Occupational Disease
Occupational Disease
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an occupational disease, Chappell, Smith & Arden stands ready to help.
What is an occupational disease?
Occupational diseases are workplace injuries and illnesses that develop over time. South Carolina's Workers' Compensation Act protects workers both from illnesses and injuries that develop gradually from workplace hazards common to that occupation or industry. The workers' compensation attorneys of Chappell, Smith & Arden will work to ensure that each victim of an occupational disease receives the same disability or death benefits as with a single work-related accident.
Common types of occupational diseases.
Occupational Disease (Disease caused by conditions at work)
-Examples include toxic exposure leading to:
-Asbestosis—chronic and severe shortness of breath
-Mesothelioma—lung cancer
-Byssinosis—brown lung disease
-Silicosis – prolonged exposure to silicon dust
-Hepatitis C – typically hospital employees handling contaminated items
-Heart disease or respiratory disease – particularly in firefighters
-Cardiac related incidents – particularly in firefighters.
If you or a loved one is the victim of an occupational disease, you may be entitled to compensation.
Injured employees may be entitled to loss of earnings, past medical expenses, -expected future medical expenses related to the accident, and compensation for permanent injuries.
If you were injured on the job.
Make sure to notify your employer immediately. Most claims will be denied if your employer is not notified of your injury within 90 days of the date you knew you were injured.
Do not give a written or recorded statement to an insurance company without first speaking with an attorney.
Has the insurance company denied your claim?
Just because the insurance company may have denied your claim does not mean that you are not entitled to compensation. Our Workers' Compensation team has extensive experience handling wrongfully denied claims. Even if you aren't sure whether you have a claim or not, it won't cost you anything to speak with one of our knowledgeable attorney's to see if we can help.
Were you out of work because of your injury?
Out of work employees who have been injured on the job are entitled to receive up to two-thirds of their weekly wages during the time they are unable to work because of their injury.
Are you unhappy with or have you been denied medical treatment?
Unfortunately, insurance companies are allowed to many of the choices relating to treatment for the injured employees. When problems come up, our attorneys have the resources and knowledge to help our clients get the proper medical treatment they deserve. If necessary, we will send our clients to qualified independent experts and respected medical professionals who will fairly evaluate our clients and assist them on a path to treatment and recovery.
Our attorneys understand the workers' compensation system and can help you maximize your recovery.
The experienced and dependable team of attorneys at Chappell, Smith & Arden have represented thousands of injured employees over the years and we are ready to put that experience to work for you. Employers and their insurance carriers have lawyers working hard to minimize workers' compensation claims; it is important that you have an experienced workers' compensation attorney to ensure your rights are protected too.
Call us for a free consultation to see if we can help.
Our attorneys understand that this can be a very difficult time for the injured employee and their families. Our attorneys stand ready to discuss your case with you and assist with any questions or concerns related to your claim.
CALL US TODAY AT (803) 929-3600
OR TOLL FREE AT 1-800-531-9780
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
