If you get exposed to toxins or substances like asbestos when you’re working, you could end up developing serious health issues. A maritime injury lawyer from Snohomish County can help you determine whether you are eligible for benefits after a workplace exposure. We have worked with plenty of seaman and maritime workers to help them claim the compensation that they deserve, and we are ready to help you.
What Are Some Symptoms of Being Exposed to Toxins?
A ship can carry all sorts of toxic materials, from pesticides to ammonia. If you do not have the proper safety equipment, it can be easy to get exposed to something that can get into your body via skin contact or inhalation. This exposure can cause issues like:
- Burns
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Rashes
- Loss of consciousness
If someone has prolonged exposure to some of these materials, they could end up with medical conditions like:
- Brain damage
- Emphysema
- Infertility
- Mesothelioma
- Cancer
Some of these conditions can only be diagnosed years after exposure. Safety needs to be a top priority whenever these toxins are being transported.
What Kinds of Benefits Can Maritime Workers Recieve After Exposure to Toxins?
Even if no one was at fault for the incident that caused an employee to get exposed to toxins, that worker can still get benefits. Maintenance and cure benefits are available even when no one is to blame for a maritime worker’s injury or illness. Maintenance benefits are meant to pay for living expenses, like rent and groceries, while a worker recovers. Cure benefits help with medical expenses until a worker gets better or they have improved as much as they are going to.
If you were harmed by exposure to toxins while you were working and you believe that your employer was to blame, you may have other options. People who work on boats and are classified as seamen can make a claim under the Jones Act, accusing their employer of negligence and asking for additional compensation. Let’s say that an employer does not provide workers with safety equipment or proper training even though they know that exposure to toxins is a real possibility. That employer should be held accountable when someone gets hurt.
When you make a successful claim under the Jones Act, you can also receive compensation for things like lost wages, a loss of earning capacity, or pain and suffering. If you are not a seaman, but you work at a port or shipyard, you can instead file a claim under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. A lawyer can tell you more about what kinds of compensation that may be available to you.
Contact Our Law Firm
When you are ready to learn more about your legal options, contact Amy C Brown Law, PLLC. We can schedule a consultation and take the time to learn more about your situation. If we think that our lawyers can be of assistance, we can talk about the next steps. Do not miss out on your chance to claim the benefits that you are entitled to.
