Asthma and Lung Conditions

Chicago Attorneys Helping Workers’ Compensation Claimants Suffering from Diseases

At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers help people who are suffering from occupational lung conditions and asthma due to environmental conditions in the workplace. As experienced job injury lawyers, we maximize injured workers’ entitlement to benefits according to Illinois law. From filing a claim against an employer or its insurance company to negotiating a settlement, we provide personal attention and dedicated representation to workers and families throughout Chicago and the surrounding area.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available to Employees Suffering from Asthma and Lung Conditions

Asthma and lung conditions are considered a form of occupational illness, which is usually defined as a long-term, chronic illness resulting from a worker’s vocation. In most cases, the worker has been exposed to substances that cause the occupational illness. The nature of the work or the conditions of the work environment involve these substances, which are harmful to health. Examples of substances that may cause illness include latex, solvent vapors, welding fumes, grain dust, and animal dander.

When workers suffer from asthma, their lungs swell, and their airways narrow. The result is often coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tightness that spreads throughout the chest. Workers suffering from asthma may also experience skin rashes and irritation of their nose and eyes.

While asthma and lung conditions can affect workers in a variety of fields, common occupations that lead to a greater threat of asthma include carpenters, metal workers, millers, woodworkers, farmers, and bakers. Individual workers may find that their asthma or condition develops gradually, over the course of days, weeks, or years.

Due to the nature of lung conditions and asthma, it can take time for workers to develop a compensable case for workers’ compensation. According to Illinois law, workers who suffer an injury or condition in the course and scope of employment are entitled to pursue a workers’ compensation claim for benefits. The laws that comprise the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act set forth benefits that help workers, including medical expenses for job-related diseases as well as payments for workers who are disabled by their work-related condition.

For workers who have a pre-existing lung condition, such as asthma, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if their current job triggered or exacerbated their disease. For example, if their lung condition had been manageable but worsened at their current workplace, even if it was present before exposure at work, they may still have a valid claim for compensation. Again, it is important to understand that symptoms from asthma may be “latent,” which means that they may not surface immediately. Employees who have a pre-existing medical condition that is worsened by current workplace conditions will find it critical to have medical opinions that demonstrate their current, aggravated condition.

Understand Your Legal Rights by Contacting a Skilled Job Injury Attorney

If workplace conditions have caused you to suffer from asthma or a lung condition, or have worsened a pre-existing condition, a job injury lawyer can help you file a workers’ compensation claim according to Illinois law. The experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca are here to offer guidance and representation throughout the entire process. Our attorneys are ready to pursue maximum compensation for clients, ensuring that their medical costs, for example, account for their future needs and treatment. We are proud to help employees and their families in Chicago, Springfield, Aurora, Quincy, Champaign, and Rockford, as well as other areas of Sangamon, Cook, Winnebago, Adams, and Kane Counties. To schedule a complimentary consultation with a skilled lawyer, call our office at 312-724-5846 or reach us online.