Workers' Compensation for Chemical Exposure at Work in Florida

How Do On-the-Job Chemical Exposure Injuries Occur?

Depending on their job and industry, workers can come into contact with a wide range of hazardous materials at work. These chemicals can cause immediate injuries or lead to long-term negative health effects. Chemical exposure in the workplace could include:

• Direct Skin Contact: Some chemicals can cause burns, irritation, or other skin issues when they come in contact with unprotected skin.
• Inhalation: Many chemicals emit toxic fumes or vapors that cause respiratory issues or even long-term lung damage.
• Ingestion: Chemical ingestion, usually accidental, can happen if chemicals are put in unmarked or previously used containers or contaminate food or drinks.
• Eye Exposure: Chemicals can splash into the eyes or emit fumes that irritate the eyes. Some chemicals can cause permanent damage to vision and eye function.

Common Chemical Exposure Injuries

Some common on-the-job chemical exposure injuries include:

• Chemical burns from corrosive substances like acids and alkalis
• Respiratory issues, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, and lung damage, from inhaling toxic vapors or dust
• Skin disorders such as dermatitis, rashes, and allergic reactions
• Eye injuries, including eye irritation, burns, and even blindness
• Poisoning and organ damage, usually due to long-term exposure to certain chemicals
• Cancers and other illnesses connected to exposure to toxic chemicals

Industries With Higher Risks for Chemical Exposure Injuries

Workers in certain industries have a higher risk of chemical exposure due to the nature of the materials used, the processes involved, and other factors. This includes:

• Manufacturing and processing
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Automotive and transportation
• Janitorial and cleaning services

Chemical Exposure Injuries and Workers’ Compensation in Florida

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. workers “suffer more than 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths annually” due to chemical exposures at work. When this happens in Florida, most workers should have access to workers’ compensation benefits.

Florida workers’ compensation insurance generally pays for:

• Initial medical treatment and follow-up care
• A portion of your missed income while you cannot work and earn your full pay
• Payments for some specific injuries or losses, such as loss of vision due to chemical exposure
• Vocational training, if necessary, to help workers with permanent injuries return to the workforce
• Death benefits for families of workers who died from their injuries

Depending on the circumstances that led to their chemical exposure, some injured workers could qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit against a liable third party, too. You cannot sue your employer in Florida, but you can hold other negligent parties accountable for injuries they cause. This could include property owners, other companies, or subcontractors.

Our Florida personal injury lawyers can assess your options based on the case facts. A third-party lawsuit could allow you to recover compensation for expenses and losses not covered by workers’ comp, including pain and suffering damages for your physical and psychological distress.

What Steps Do You Take to Get Workers’ Compensation for Chemical Exposure in Florida?

As soon as you recognize signs or symptoms of chemical exposure, you must see an approved doctor or get care at an approved facility. Based on your injuries or symptoms, this could mean:

• Seeing an on-site medic who could help you cleanse the area that was exposed
• Going to urgent care or the emergency department
• Scheduling a visit with a doctor

After prioritizing your health and getting a diagnosis of a work-related condition, you will report your chemical exposure injury to your employer. Your workplace should have a set protocol for doing this, such as emailing your supervisor or notifying human resources (HR) via writing.

When you notify your employer, they should act quickly to notify the workers’ compensation insurance company about what happened. This will trigger the insurer to:

• Determine the facts of the case
• Learn about the severity of your injuries
• Gather general information about your injuries and care
• Calculate your lost wage benefit
• Approve you for workers’ compensation benefits

Issues could arise during this process. Your employer might not file the claim, or the insurance carrier might not agree that your injuries occurred because of a work-related chemical exposure. This could make it more difficult to get the benefits you deserve.

What Should You Do When Something Goes Wrong With Your Florida Workers’ Comp Claim?

If you encounter hiccups or roadblocks in your chemical exposure injury workers’ compensation case, let us know immediately. Our legal team can manage your workers’ compensation claim so you can focus on healing. Some common issues that injured or sick workers have with their workers’ comp claims include:

• Their employer refuses to accept that the exposure occurred at work (especially likely if you are diagnosed with an illness that develops over time)
• Their employer will not contact the insurance carrier to file the claim
• The insurance company causes unreasonable delays
• The insurer demands additional evidence or documentation
• The insurance carrier unfairly denies the claim

Our attorneys can help counter these issues by:

• Filing the claim on your behalf
• Gathering supporting evidence of chemical exposure
• Documenting your injury or illness to show its cause
• Managing all communication with the insurance carrier
• Challenging a claim denial

Our Florida workers’ compensation attorneys know the outcome of your case matters to you. We understand you need workers’ compensation benefits to make ends meet and recover from your on-the-job injury or illness. We fight to help you prove your claim and get approval for the benefits you deserve. 

Call Rosenberg & Rosenberg as soon as possible so you can prevent issues with your claim or quickly address issues that have already developed.

What Deadlines Apply to Florida Workplace Injury Cases Based on Chemical Exposure?

If you want to secure workers’ compensation benefits after injuries or an illness related to chemical exposure at work, there are numerous timelines you must work within. Because of the delay in how long it takes for some exposure-related illnesses to develop, meeting some of these deadlines could be difficult.

If you have questions or concerns about your claim, our Florida work injury attorneys can help you meet the following deadlines:

• You should get medical care as soon as possible for your chemical exposure symptoms
• You have up to 30 days to notify your employer of your workplace injury or illness
• You have two years to file your workers’ compensation claim
• You have only a short time to challenge a claim denial from the workers’ compensation insurance company
• You also have two years to file a valid third-party negligence case under Florida Statutes § 95.11

You do not want to miss an applicable deadline. Doing so could jeopardize your right to fair compensation. You could lose the ability to fight for the money you deserve.

As long as we know about your case in time, our legal representatives can prevent this from occurring.

Trust Your Chemical Exposure Workers’ Comp Case to Our Florida Lawyers

As you can see from our verdicts and settlements, Rosenberg & Rosenberg has recovered millions for injured clients over the last five decades. Our firm treats each client like family. We take the time to listen to you and understand why getting workers’ compensation benefits is important to your family. We build a personalized legal strategy to pursue your benefits and any other compensation you are eligible for.

Our workers’ comp lawyers want to help you recover from your injuries and return to the workforce. We protect your right to fair compensation and fight for the money you need to make ends meet and cover your injury-related expenses. We handle a wide variety of workers’ compensation injury cases, including chemical exposure claims. 

Our team is available 24/7 and represents clients based on contingency. You will not need to pay upfront fees or costs for us to begin working on your case.

Talk to Our Workers’ Compensation Team About Your Chemical Exposure Injuries

Rosenberg & Rosenberg provides free consultations to everyone who wants to know if they qualify for workers’ compensation for chemical exposure at work in Florida. Let our lawyers help you get the benefits you deserve. Contact us today to talk to our legal team about your case for free.