Chemical Exposure on the Job

In and around Rockland County, there are many ways in which workers can be injured during the course and scope of their employment. Sustaining a fall on a slippery surface and breaking a bone, or being required to perform a repetitive motion for such a long period of time that carpal tunnel syndrome develops are just a couple of common examples. Another growing problem in the workplace, and an increasingly common source of work-related injuries, is injury due to chemical exposure on the job. The Rockland County workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., are prepared to assist those who need legal representation in seeking the benefits to which they may be entitled after an injury caused by exposure to chemicals at work.

Most places of business have at least some type of potentially harmful chemical stored on site – cleaning products, for example, can be dangerous under some conditions, even though they are commonly used both at work and at home. However, some workplaces (such as factories and mines) are especially dangerous when it comes to potential chemical exposure to those on the job. Workers who are exposed to chemicals while performing their work can suffer serious burns, sustain neurological injuries, and even die due to injuries to their throat, lungs, skin, and eyes. Sometimes, a worker may have been exposed to a toxic chemical such as asbestos for many years without even being aware of it. In other situations, a chemical spill may happen suddenly, injuring a worker in just a few seconds’ time.

Regardless of whether a worker’s chemical exposure injuries occurred instantaneously or over a number of years, he or she has a right to seek workers’ compensation benefits from his or her employer or its insurance company. These benefits include payment of medical costs, temporary disability payments, and permanent partial or total disability benefits. Although these benefits are supposed to begin automatically after the employee has reported his or her injuries, it is not unusual for an employer or workers’ compensation insurance company to dispute a claim. When this happens, the employee has a right to a hearing before an administrative law judge. Just like in civil court, if a litigant is not pleased with the judge’s decision, he or she has a right to appeal to a higher tribunal for further consideration.

The employee is allowed, by law, to have a legal representative of his or her choosing represent his or her interests throughout the litigation process. Usually, the employee’s attorney is paid a percentage of the employee’s settlement or judgment when the proceedings are over. This allows the employee to hire an attorney without paying upfront legal costs. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for most injured workers to obtain counsel, especially if a worker is out of work and receiving no benefits or other pay.

If you or a loved one has been hurt due to chemical exposure on the job, it is advisable to talk to an attorney as soon as you can in order to make sure you are pursuing any lost wages or other benefits you may be entitled to. There are deadlines that apply to workers’ compensation cases, and failure to make a timely claim will probably result in a denial of benefits. Additionally, in some chemical exposure cases, there may be the possibility of a third party action against an entity other than the employer, possibly increasing the amount of monetary compensation potentially available to the injured worker. These types of cases, too, have filing deadlines and should be investigated by experienced lawyer. At the Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., we handle both workers’ compensation cases and third party negligence actions for personal injury or wrongful death through Rockland County and Greater New York, including Westchester, Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess Counties. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 845.708.5900, call Valerie’s cell phone 24/7 at 845.598.8253, or contact us online and we will be happy to set up an appointment for you to come in and learn more about how we can be of service in your particular situation.