Archives for June 2016

Most people understand that, when you’ve been hurt at work, your first (and often exclusive) remedy for lost wages and medical expenses is a workers’ compensation claim. But what if it’s not an injury suffered in an accident, but an illness caused by something at your job? Can you still seek benefits if your job has made you sick?

The good news—yes, workers’ compensation laws in New Jersey allow claimants to recover benefits for any disease or illness caused by conditions at work. If you work in an environment with toxic chemicals or other substances, you may have a valid claim for workers’ compensation if you contract cancer or some similar illness. If your job involves exposure to dust, fumes or fibers, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim for silicosis or for asthma-like conditions. In addition, if you are employed in a high-stress job, working as a law enforcement officer, a firefighter or an EMT, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation if you develop high blood pressure, or suffer a heart attack or stroke.

In order to successfully recover workers’ compensation benefits for an occupational disease, you must demonstrate a clear connection between the job and your illness. If you suspect that you have a health problem because of exposure to something at work, your first course of action should be to see a physician. Be certain to document exactly when the symptoms first appeared and where you were working at the time.

It’s also important to understand that, if the substance that caused your illness was manufactured or installed by someone unrelated to your employer, you may be able to file a lawsuit in court against that party. You will likely have to wait longer to resolve the dispute, but you won’t be limited to the damages available through a workers’ compensation claim.

Contact Our Office

At Taylor & Boguski, we bring more than 70 years of combined legal experience to injured workers throughout New Jersey. For a free initial consultation, contact our office online or call us at 856-200-8989.

New Jersey waste and recycle giant Action Environmental Group has implemented company-wide measures to improve employee safety and minimize the risk of workers’ compensation claims.

According to the company’s Director of Safety, Ken Levine, the company has been using video cameras for more than a year, filming employees as they go about their duties on the road and during trash pickups. The stated objectives of the program—to learn from any accidents or incidents that do occur, and to provide training opportunities to all employees.

Levine said that the cameras, mounted on the dashboard of each vehicle, monitor both the driver and the road ahead, so that company officials can determine reactions to different situations. Company officials do not review the videos, but send them over to a third party for analysis and to determine if drivers are following safety guidelines and abiding by the laws, specifically with respect to seat belts and other safety measures. If the third-party vendor observes violations, the tapes are sent to Action Environmental and are used to coach employees to avoid safety risks.

According to Levine, during the first three months of the program, there was nearly a 50% drop in the incidents of risky behavior by drivers. He said the company has also seen a similar decrease in workers’ compensation claims filed by company employees. The company has also used videotape as evidence in workers’ compensation proceedings.

Contact the Law Office of Taylor & Boguski

At Taylor & Boguski, we bring more than 70 years of combined legal experience to injured people throughout New Jersey. For a free initial consultation, contact us online or call us at 856-200-8989.