Collecting Workers Comp for Cancer
How Attorneys Fight a Workers Comp Claim for Cancer
An employee’s injury does not have to be caused by an accident to be covered by workers’ comp. As an employee, Workers Compensation benefits may also be collected for illnesses and diseases – such as cancer – that were a result of working conditions.
Workplace exposure to hazardous chemical, radiation and even the sun can result in cancer. However, proving that you cancer was caused by working conditions can be harder than proving injuries received in an accident.
Proving Your Workers Compensation Claim for Cancer
While you are entitled to be covered for employment-related cancer through workers compensation, it is first necessary to show that the cancer directly resulted from your performance of required work-related duties.
Unfortunately, this can sometimes be difficult, especially when the cancer has developed over a long period of time and/or the exposure to carcinogenic substances was many years ago.
Some cancers caused by toxic exposures may not develop until months – or even years – after the initial exposure, so it can be hard to trace the cause of the illness back to your exposure to chemicals, radiation or sun at work.
Sadly, many employers and workers’ compensation insurers will try to blame you cancer on anything other than your work environment – including heredity or non-work activities.
Evidence for Your Workers Compensation Claim for Cancer
There are several methods by which you and your attorney can try to prove that your cancer was caused by work-related responsibilities or conditions.
Demonstrating that other employees who worked with you, and/or under the same working conditions, also developed the same type of cancer can be helpful to proving your case. When multiple people within a location or specific industry develop the same or similar illness, this can be a strong indication that the cancer was work-related.
Researching recalls and changes to the law related to your work situation can also be beneficial. For example, if a chemical that you worked with has been banned or made illegal because it is known to cause cancer, you can use this as evidence that your work exposure caused you harm.
Finding a qualified and specialized doctor can also help you to document the cause of your cancer. Oncologists (cancer doctors) can help supply medical evidence to support your claim that the cancer was caused by exposure in your workplace.
Our Long Beach Attorneys Fight for Workers Comp for Cancer
If you applied for and were denied Workers Compensation for cancer, it is important to contact a Workers Comp attorney who is experienced in Cancer cases immediately.
Proving that your cancer was caused by your work environment can be challenging. And workers comp insurers can fight you every step of the way. But a Workers Comp attorney who has experience with cancer cases will be able to help you present the documentation you need to help you prove your cancer was work related, and obtain the benefits you deserve.
Our Long Beach Workers Compensation attorneys have obtained millions of dollars for cancer stricken workers. We know how the California Workers Comp system works and how to obtain the maximum benefits for which you qualify.
