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Brannock & Soto Workers' comp lawyers
A warehouse worker in a hard hat, safety glasses and a dust respirator stands near a forklift

Occupational illness and exposure

Lung disease, hearing loss, skin conditions and illness from chemicals, dust or fumes. Long timelines, careful medical proof.

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Exposure on the job

Why illness claims take patience

Occupational illness claims are some of the hardest in workers' comp. The exposure may have happened years ago, at more than one employer, and the illness may look like something with other causes. Insurers know this and often deny first.

We take these cases slowly and carefully. That means an exposure history job by job, medical experts who know occupational disease, and an honest talk about the odds. Some of these claims succeed. Some do not, even with good work. You deserve to know that from the start.

Occupational illness cases are won on records, not on how sure anyone feels.

You may be in this spot if

  • You worked around silica, asbestos, welding fumes, solvents or pesticides
  • A doctor says your breathing problem may be work related
  • You have hearing loss after years around loud machinery
  • You developed a skin condition or asthma after a change at work
  • The exposure happened at an employer you left long ago

How we help

  • Map every exposure

    We build a work history: each job, each material, how long and what protection you had.

  • Find the right expert

    Occupational medicine doctors can explain the link between an exposure and an illness in terms a judge can use.

  • Pick the right employer

    When exposure spans several jobs, state rules decide which employer's insurer is responsible.

  • Talk about the odds honestly

    These cases can take a long time and are not always winnable. We tell you what we see before you commit.

Exposure history: what we ask for

Bring what you have. Old pay stubs and union records can fill gaps.

Exposure history: what we ask for
Detail Example
DetailEmployer and years ExampleSteel fabricator, 2006 to 2015
DetailMaterial or hazard ExampleWelding fumes, grinding dust, solvents
DetailProtection provided ExampleRespirator type, ventilation, ear protection, or none
DetailHours per week near it ExampleFull shift, or a few hours a week
DetailCo-workers with similar illness ExampleNames, if you know them, help show a pattern

Deadlines, in general terms

Many states start the clock for occupational disease when you were diagnosed or told the illness was related to work, not when the exposure happened. Those windows can still be short once they start.

Every state writes its own deadlines. We give you the dates that apply in Missouri and Kansas in writing after the first call. What varies by state

A related example outcome

Example outcomes are illustrations written for this sample website, not real clients. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any other matter, and some cases do not succeed.

All example outcomes

Example outcome Occupational illness

Lung disease claim denied after a hearing

Welder, 22 years

The situation
A long-time welder developed a lung condition. He had also smoked for many years, and the exposure spanned three employers.
What we did
We built a job-by-job exposure history and presented an occupational medicine expert at the hearing.
How it ended
The judge found the medical evidence did not show work was a large enough cause under the state's standard. We explained the appeal options; the client chose not to appeal.

Did not succeed

Questions we hear

All questions
The company I worked for closed. Can I still file?

Possibly. The employer's insurer at the time may still be responsible, and some states have funds for workers whose employer had no coverage. We look up who insured the company in the years you worked there.

I smoked. Does that end my lung claim?

Not automatically. Smoking makes these claims harder, but a doctor may still find that work exposure caused or added to the illness. We give you a straight answer once records are reviewed.

Can my family file if I passed away from a work illness?

In many states, dependents can file for death benefits. Those claims have their own deadlines, so call early.

Other ways we help

Talk to a lawyer about an illness from work

The free case evaluation takes about five minutes. We call back within one business day, in English or Spanish, and tell you plainly whether we think we can help.

Start a free case evaluation Call (816) 555-0142

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