Many people associate being injured on the job with one-time accidents, such as a strained back caused by heavy lifting or a concussion sustained as a result of falling on a slippery floor. What most people don’t realize, however, is that one of the most common justifications for filing a workers’ compensation claim is occupational exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxins. These illnesses are especially problematic because they usually occur over a period of time and only manifest after years of exposure. Fortunately, Virginia’s workers’ compensation laws also allow injured employees to collect benefits for these types of illnesses, so if you live in Jamestown and were recently injured on the job, whether as a result of occupational exposure or due to another type of accident, it is important to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can help you seek reimbursement for your medical costs.

Covered Illnesses

In addition to broken bones, muscle strains, and other types of trauma, Virginia’s workers’ compensation program also covers occupational illnesses contracted by employees, which could include:

• Blood borne diseases;
• Cancers affecting the lungs;
• Cardiovascular disease;
• Hearing loss;
• Respiratory illnesses; and
• Skin diseases.

Some of these illnesses can be the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, which can include maintaining a poor diet or smoking. However, in many cases, these diseases are also caused by exposure to dangerous substances and so are compensable under Virginia’s workers’ compensation law.

Filing a Claim

After sustaining a work-related injury, an employee should immediately seek reasonable medical care. It is also important during the initial examination to inform the doctor of the cause of the accident, so that he or she can include it in the report and send the bill to the employer. At this point, an injured employee should notify his or her employer of the injury. This must be done within one month of the injury or the worker risks his or her claim being barred. Once an employer has been notified, the employee should also file a claim with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. After the Commission reviews the claim, an employee with a covered injury or illness may receive some or all of the following benefits:

• Lifetime medical benefits, including reimbursement for out of pocket medical, prescription, and transportation expenses;
• Temporary wage loss replacement, which commences on the eighth day of disability;
• Permanent partial disability payments for the loss of the use of a body part or disfigurement;
• Lifetime wage replacement;
• Death benefits; and
• Miscellaneous costs, including mileage reimbursement and cost of living increases.