Occupational Illnesses and Injuries

Occupational Illness in the Workplace Lawyer Washington Workplace Exposure and Injury Attorney

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WA Workers' compensation insurance covers two main categories of workplace-related claims:

Injury:
Workplace injuries can include fingers amputated by factory machinery, feet run over by a forklift, or bones broken by a fall from a ladder or a slip down the stairs. Many workplace injuries that happen are tied to a specific incident at a definite time and place. Other injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries, develop more slowly over time. Fires, explosions, and assaults that occur in the workplace are covered but could also be a Third Party claim.

Occupational Illness:
An occupational disease is an illness or exposure that was directly caused by the work you do or the workplace environment. A dental hygienist may develop an allergic reaction to wearing latex gloves, for example. A chemical plant worker may become ill because of exposure to toxic chemicals.

A police officer who witnesses a killing may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an occupational illness caused by stress. Workers' comp would likely cover a PTSD claim if it was related to a specific traumatic event. A claim based on occupational exposure to general job stress would probably be denied.

If you have questions about whether or not your injury or illness would be covered by workers' compensation please contact a workers' compensation lawyer at Keith S. Douglass & Associates, LLP. We are here to help.