If you discover that you’re suffering from hearing impairment, you may be wondering whether you can get workers compensation for hearing loss.
You can qualify for workers compensation for hearing loss as long as the hearing loss was a result of your employment. Hearing impairment is considered an occupational health condition, meaning it’s an injury or illness you could have developed because of your job or because of harmful exposures at work, including exposure to loud noises.
Proving Your Hearing Loss Happened Because of Your Job
To qualify to receive workers comp benefits for your hearing loss, you must be able to prove that your job caused your hearing loss. You must be able to demonstrate this using evidence that the environment where you worked exposed you to loud noise.
If you work in an office setting where loud noises aren’t common, you would likely not be able to prove that your employment caused your hearing impairment.
Let’s go over a few other types of occupational illnesses and injuries.
Examples of Other Types of Occupational Diseases and Illnesses
Many types of occupational diseases or illnesses could qualify you to seek workers compensation benefits. Some of those include the following:
- Skin diseases or disorders caused by exposure to toxic substances, such as plants and chemicals
- Respiratory issues caused by exposure to harmful chemicals, dust, vapors, fumes, or other substances
- Poisoning, including the ingestion or absorption of harmful substances
- Frostbite
- Radiation exposure
- Bloodborne pathogens caused by workplace exposure
Talk to a Workers Comp Lawyer
Now that you know you very likely can get workers comp for hearing loss, what are you going to do? If you believe you are suffering from an occupational disease, you should contact a lawyer at Finkelstein, Meirowitz & Eidlisz, LLP.
Filing workers compensation claims can be difficult. There are all sorts of eligibility requirements and time frames, not to mention the unpleasant fact that you must deal with insurance companies that will try to deny your claim on a technicality.
To discuss your occupational disease during a free case evaluation, call us at 212-385-9190. You can also fill out and submit the form below to reach us.