Employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work environment are generally eligible for workers' compensation. If you or a loved one contracted COVID-19 while on the job, you may be owed medical and wage benefits from your employer. An attorney can help you navigate the complicated claims process. The following guide briefly outlines what you should know about Colorado's workers' compensation laws.

What Is an Occupational Disease?

An occupational disease is an illness or condition arising over a long period as a result of work-related conditions. If an employee wants to be eligible for workers' compensation benefits based on occupational disease, they must show their illness emerged out of the course and scope of their employment. This proves the employer was benefiting from the situation. A medical professional must make the diagnosis. The disease's cause must also be the direct result of the peculiar conditions of a job that are uncommon to the public.

Construction workers or electricians who rehab or rewire old buildings for their employers might inhale chemicals from asbestos used in insulation. Long-term exposure to this material can cause various cancers, including mesothelioma. This is a lung disease that civilians rarely contract.

What Are High-Risk Jobs?

Jobs carrying a high risk of developing an occupational disease include hospital and health care workers treating patients with HIV, hepatitis, or COVID-19. First responders and certain professionals in the travel industry hold high-risk positions, as well. However, your attorney will likely tell you that as the coronavirus becomes more common amongst the general population, employees have increased difficulty establishing its status as an occupational disease.

What Benefits Can You Claim?

Colorado has received 8,862 COVID-19 claims as of Aug. 31, 2021. You can claim medical benefits and temporary-partial or temporary-total disability for lost wages, and you must miss three work shifts as a waiting period before receiving benefits. If your injury causes you to miss more than two weeks of your job, you will receive back pay for this period. Mileage reimbursement from employers can be obtained for injury-related care and treatment. Consulting an experienced workers' compensation attorney ensures you claim and receive all available benefits.

If you contracted COVID-19 at work, seek advice from Andrew T. Brake PC. This attorney offers extensive experience in workers' compensation claims and has been serving clients throughout the Denver, CO, metro area since 1983. He is dedicated to helping each client receive all the benefits the law allows. Visit the website for more about this firm's employment services, and call (303) 806-9000 to schedule a consultation.