Do you have a serious skin condition or disease? Do you work with dangerous chemicals in your line of work? Do you think your skin condition might be related to the work you perform or the environment you work in? If so, you might be eligible to recover workers compensation benefits. Although most people are aware that you can get workers’ comp for workplace injuries like a slip and fall, many people do not realize that skin conditions and diseases can also be covered under workers’ comp, as long as you can prove that the condition or disease is related to the work you perform. Below, we explain what you need to know about skin disorders and filing for workers’ compensation.
What Kinds Of Skin Conditions Will Workers’ Comp Cover?
There is a large variety of skin conditions that can be caused by work related activities, such as:
- Dermatitis: Refers to the inflammation of the skin that sometimes causes symptoms like minor redness and blistering with fluid discharge. While dermatitis caused from minor exposure to toxic chemicals can sometimes be cured, serious exposure cause more significant damage to a worker’s skin. Dermatitis is often found in workers with jobs that involve long-term exposure to chemicals or the constant use of water.
- Hives: Sometimes called Urticaria, hives are a skin rash that can be caused by allergic reactions to food, medication, or another type of irritant. Hives are characterized by itchy, red, raised welts that appear on surface of a person’s skin. This skin condition can appear for a few days or it can last for weeks. Usually, hives come from over exposure to chemicals, though it can also be caused by extreme physical or mental stress.
- Skin Cancer: This form of cancer can be caused by exposure to dangerous chemicals or excessive ultraviolet radiation. Basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are common skin cancers that are often found in outdoor industries like agriculture. These types of skin disorders can be very expensive to treat.
Although you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your skin condition, actually getting your employer’s insurer to pay out can be more difficult than you might think. Workers’ compensation cases can be very complex and often become complicated, especially if your claim is denied.
If you have developed a skin disorder and think it was caused or aggravated by your work environment, you should immediately consult with our workers’ compensation attorney. At The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC, we focus on helping injured workers get the financial compensation that they are entitled to. We have more than 10 years of experience and we have successfully handled thousands of cases. Let us put our skills and resources to work for you today.
Contact our San Antonio workers’ compensation lawyer to get started on your free case evaluation.