Being exposed to toxic chemicals and other substances at work can cause serious lung diseases. If you or a loved one has a work-related lung disease, our workers’ compensation lawyers at Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, can assess your case and advise you of your options. We understand the impact of a lung disease can have far-reaching consequences. For more than 30 years, our occupational disease lawyers have helped workers on Staten Island and in the Greater NYC area get the workers’ compensation benefits and treatment they need for a work-related injury or illness.
Jobs With a High Risk of Lung Disease
Lung diseases can be caused by chemical exposure, breathing in harmful particles, and other environmental hazards and toxins. Some industries and workers are more at risk for lung diseases because of the type of work they do. These include:
- Demolition and construction workers
- Painters
- Welders
- Miners
- Textile and factory workers
- Auto and aircraft mechanics
- Those who work in manufacturing and industrial settings
- Farmers and agricultural workers
- Janitorial workers
- Dry cleaners
- Manicurists
Types of Work-Related Lung Diseases
Most occupational lung diseases are caused by repeated, long-term exposure to harmful substances. However, exposure to some dangerous chemicals can cause immediate, acute damage to the lungs. Substances and toxins linked to lung disease include asbestos, benzene, silica, beryllium, ammonia, chlorine, diacetyl, coal dust, smoke, pesticides, insecticides, mold, fungi, smoke, gasoline, organic dusts, and particles from cotton, hemp, and flax.
Exposure to these substances can cause diseases such as:
- Asthma
- Asbestosis
- Mesothelioma
- Silicosis
- Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (black lung disease)
- Byssinosis (brown lung disease)
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung)
- Lung cancer
- Chronic beryllium disease
Symptoms of Lung Diseases
Symptoms of lung diseases also are associated with common ailments such as colds, flu, and bronchitis, so it can be easy to brush them off as no big deal. However, even a mildly irritating symptom like a cough or sore throat may be a sign of something serious if it doesn’t go away.
Symptoms of lung disease include:
- Sore or dry, scratchy throat
- Cough
- Chest tightness or chest pain
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Sinus irritation
- Fatigue
- Unexpected weight loss
- Anemia
- Fever
Most occupational lung diseases cannot be cured. Even if a condition isn’t life threatening, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life. You may not be able to return to work or do the things you once enjoyed. It’s also devastating for families to lose someone they love to a fatal lung disease.
Workers’ Compensation for Lung Diseases
If you’re suffering from a work-related lung disease, workers’ compensation should cover your medical bills and wage loss. Depending on the nature and severity of your illness, you may be entitled to partial or total disability payments. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to minimize or deny claims for these types of occupational diseases and claim they are not work-related. That’s why it’s crucial to have a workers’ compensation lawyer who knows how to gather relevant evidence and put it all together to show the connection between your lung disease and your job. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, our occupational disease lawyers can help you appeal and fight to recover the benefits and compensation you deserve.
Third-Party Injury Claims
Although workers in New York generally are forbidden from suing their employers, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against other negligent parties. For example, if the manufacturer of a weed killer fails to warn about potentially adverse health effects of a herbicide that causes cancer, they may be liable for damages such as pain and suffering, loss of future earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. However, workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and personal injury claims all can impact one another. Before filing any lawsuits, it’s essential to have an experienced occupational disease lawyer assess your case to maximize the compensation that may be available to you.
Why Choose Our Lung Disease Lawyers?
At Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, we care about our clients. We know how occupational illnesses such as lung diseases can shatter families. As the largest workplace injury law firm on Staten Island, we help make things right for people who suffer job-related injuries and illnesses. You can count on our dedicated team to work toward the best possible outcome for your case so you can focus on taking care of your health and your family. Attorney and partner Rolando Cubela is proud to represent our Spanish-speaking clients.
Contact an Occupational Disease Lawyer in the Greater NYC Area
If you or a loved one is suffering from a work-related lung disease, our team at Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, can take some of the weight off your shoulders and fight for your rights. To schedule a free case evaluation for your workers’ compensation or Social Security Disability claim, call us at 718-273-9000 or contact us.
