Although many of the restrictions surround the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted, that doesn’t make the virus or any other kind of disease go away. Even if it’s a small case or laryngitis, it’s important to see a doctor when you’re facing congestion or shortness of breath.

Monitoring your own health is especially important, considering Missouri’s current circumstances. According to an article from KOMU, health professionals in the mid-Missouri area are reporting a huge spike in cases of respiratory illness. One doctor claims that the number of cases they’ve seen have nearly doubled.

For many people in Columbia, they place where they are most at risk might be the place they visit nearly every day: their place of work. The National Safety Council found that the leading cause of employees missing work in 2021 was due to exposure to dangerous substances, including being exposed to contagious diseases and other vectors for disease. People who work in service-related jobs are especially at risk for being exposed to these diseases, as they are expected to interact with large volumes of people throughout their day.

If your job causes you to contract a respiratory illness, your employer is responsible for making sure your medical expenses are paid for. To do that, you’ll need to file a workers’ compensation claim with the help of an experienced work comp lawyer.

File Your Injury Report Immediately

In the state of Missouri, you only have a time window of 30 days to report your injury or illness to your employer. Doing so is the first step towards getting the compensation you need, so you need to do it fast. Once your injury has been reported and you’ve started to receive medical treatment, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company will step in.

This is why having an experienced work comp attorney on your side is a huge asset. You may find that your employer’s insurance is more interested is marking your case as ‘resolved’ than making sure you make a full recovery. Your lawyer can advocate for you in these difficult conversation and make sure you get all the benefits you need.

Injured at Work? Call the Law Office of Chris Miller

Whether you’re facing a respiratory illness, a broken bone, or something even more severe, you need a work comp attorney on your side. They can help you with every aspect of your claim, that way you can spend your energy focusing on healing. Call the Law Office of Chris Miller if you’ve been injured at work.