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Occupational Disease

In Ohio, when you develop an illness, medical condition, or other ailment related to your work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, workers’ compensation claims aren’t always easy to prove. Sometimes, an occupational disease may be related to a job you did in the past — or even to several different jobs you’ve held. That scenario can make a workers’ compensation claim complicated.

However, an experienced Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer such as ours at Kisling, Nestico & Redick can help you make the strongest argument for why you should receive benefits.

With the help of our Ohio workers’ compensation lawyers, we can help you to file a workers’ compensation claim or appeal a denial of benefits. Our experienced Ohio occupational disease attorneys can advocate for you in any type of occupational exposure or illness case.

If you have been diagnosed with an occupational disease as a result of your job, contact an Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer at Kisling, Nestico & Redick as soon as possible. We’ll work to hold any responsible party accountable for your condition and fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

Occupational Diseases and Workers’ Compensation Claims

Many people know they can receive workers’ compensation benefits when they’re injured in a work-related accident, such as getting a hand caught in a punch press. However, you also may be eligible for benefits when you develop an illness or disease as a result of your employment.

Through a workers’ compensation claim, you may be able to receive compensation for:

Medical costs to treat your occupational disease
Loss of income
Disability — partial or full, temporary or permanent
Vocational retraining

However, you must prove that your occupational disease was related to your employment. Our Ohio workers’ compensation attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick can discuss your situation and explain your legal options for seeking compensation.

Occupational Diseases From Hazardous Materials

Occupational diseases often occur after repeated exposure to a harmful substance in a work environment. Because a dangerous substance or condition may be present at a workplace for years at a time before it’s detected, a worker who visits that workplace day-in and day-out is at greater risk of contracting a disease from their workplace than is a member of the general public.

According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, occupational diseases related to hazardous materials may be caused by exposure to:

Dust, gases, and fumes
Chemicals and toxic substances
Extreme changes of noises, temperatures, or pressure
Constantly repeated physical movement e.g. vibrations under constant pressure
Radioactive rays
Infections and organisms

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we help employees who have been harmed by exposure to dangerous substances in their workplace. These substances can include asbestos, insecticides, lead, formaldehyde, and other chemicals and toxic fumes.

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Effects of Occupational Diseases

The effects of occupational diseases include many cancers, heart disease, lung disease, and even specific conditions, such as:

Reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Asbestosis
Berylliosis
Coal miners’ pneumoconiosis
Epithelial cancer
Mesothelioma
Silicosis
Squamous cell carcinoma
Tenosynovitis
Vision loss
Hearing loss
Anxiety disorders
Rashes

If you think you might have contracted an illness or disease because of conditions related to your employment, be sure to get diagnosed by a doctor and to contact an Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer right away. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we can evaluate your medical and employment records to see if there might be a link between your workplace conditions and your health and help you build a case to support your workers’ compensation claim.

Our Ohio workers’ compensation lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are adept at handling all forms of occupational disease cases. With dozens of years of combined experience, we’ll examine the causes of your condition, whether or not it could have been prevented, what safety procedures and protocol were in effect at your workplace, and help you pursue compensation.

Fatal Occupational Diseases

In 2014, nearly 10 percent of all occupational fatalities in Ohio were caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These exposures primarily effected men who worked in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations, but also instances across Ohio industries.

Industries with the highest fatalities included:

Construction and extraction
Installation, maintenance, and repair
Production, transportation, and moving of materials
Building and grounds cleaning
Protective services

If your loved one worked in any of these occupations, or any other occupation not listed, and you have reason to believe that his or her death was due to a work-related cause, call 1-800-HURT-NOW to speak with a trained Ohio personal injury lawyer.

You may be able to obtain workers’ compensation death benefits or pursue a wrongful death claim, depending on the circumstances of your case. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick we will fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your loss.

How the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with KNR Can Help You

We understand diseases and chronic illnesses resulting from on-the-job exposure to harmful conditions can put immense physical, emotional, and financial stress on you and your family. You may have lost weeks, months, or years of work due to illness and spent thousands of dollars on medical bills.

The dedicated Ohio workers’ compensation lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick take care of all aspects of your case so that you can focus your full attention on your recovery. We will stand up for your interests and provide you the trusted advice you need to remain eligible for workers’ compensation payments.

To arrange a free consultation with one of our Ohio personal injury lawyers, contact us at 1-800-HURT-NOW or use our online form. One call does it all — learn how Kisling, Nestico & Redick can help you by scheduling your appointment today.

Occupational Disease Lawyer