Accidental Injuries vs. Occupational Diseases: What to Know

When it comes to workers’ compensation claims, the injury or health issue that you are seeking compensation for must fall in one of two main categories: an accidental injury or an occupational disease. While an injury in either of these categories may merit workers’ compensation, it is important to know the differences between the two and the different ways you should pursue a claim of either one. Read on to find out more about accidental injuries, occupational diseases, and the workers’ compensation attorneys that can help you fight your case for either one.

 What is an Accidental Injury?

 An accidental injury is, of the two categories, relatively more simple to pinpoint. You must be able to identify the single event that led to the injury- i.e., if you are lifting a heavy box to place it on a shelf and you suddenly feel a sharp, shooting pain in your lower back. In this case, you can identify the time and date of the injury, as well as the circumstances (lifting the box) that caused it; this information is equally as important for your employer and your physician to have as it is for your workers’ compensation attorney to have.

 What is an Occupational Disease?

In some cases, proving the causation of an occupational disease can prove more challenging than proving the causation of an accidental injury. Nevertheless, those workers who suffer from occupational diseases are every bit as deserving of compensation. An occupational disease is defined as some type of disability, disorder, or illness that was contracted as a result of your working conditions. Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome can fall under the scope of an occupational disease. In order to guarantee your occupational disease is compensable, it is extremely important that both you and your workers’ compensation attorney can prove that your ailment was caused by your working conditions and their inherent hazards, not that it was an existing ailment that continued during the period of your employment. In doing so, you will identify the date of disablement and the exact conditions that led to the development of your occupational disease.

For more information or to begin pursuing your workers’ compensation claim, get in touch with our team of workers’ comp lawyers today.

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