Did you contract COVID-19 through work? Did you have lasting effects from COVID or medical bills from getting treated or during a hospital stay for the virus? Even if your employer insists that you couldn’t have gotten coronavirus at work, it is not the end of the story. Considering that we spend most of our waking hours on the job, it is plausible that a worker contracted COVID-19 while at work. Often, the challenge is proving that you did, in fact, contract COVID at work.
Despite the challenges of these cases, at Wertz Law, we believe it is worth considering your Workers’ Compensation rights in relation to COVID-19, especially if you answer yes to one or more of the following questions:
- Do you work in healthcare?
- What did the employer provide for PPE, or personal protective equipment?
- Did they provide masks?
- Did they make it possible to social distance from others?
- Did other coworkers contract COVID-19?
- What other exposure to coronavirus might you have had?
If you test positive for COVID-19 and believe you contracted it at work, you may want to explore Workers’ Compensation to help pay for time off for recovery as well as medical bills.
Lasting Effects of COVID-19
People who experience long-haul Covid can have a range of lasting effects, including brain fog, headaches, loss of smell, joint pain, fast heartbeat, depression, anxiety—and the list goes on. The Mayo Clinic identifies several possible symptoms of “post-COVID-19 syndrome,” which can not only last for months, but even reappear in people who had COVID. This can occur, even if the initial virus was mild.
If you had a preexisting condition when you contracted coronavirus, you may be more at risk of serious side effects. The important thing is to get treatment by seeing your doctor and documenting your illness. When you tested positive and where you believe you contracted the virus are important facts, as are the steps your employer took to protect you and other workers from the spread of the virus.
Carefully consider whether you could have gotten COVID at work, and contact us to discuss the possibility of making a workers’ compensation claim for COVID injury.
Know the Work Comp Benefits
Work Comp benefits include temporary and permanent disabilities, either of which may apply to your COVID-19 illness. Mileage and travel expenses may also be reimbursed. Review the Work Comp benefits so you can be informehttps://www.wertzlaw.com/blog/what-benefits-are-available-through-workers-comp/d about your rights as a worker in Iowa.
Report Your Work-Related Illness or Injury Within 90 Days
If you are sure your COVID-19 illness was contracted at work, notify your employer immediately. You have 90 days to report a work-related illness or injury, but the sooner you report it, the better. Document the virus, your treatment for it, and mileage and travel expenses. These steps may help clarify your work comp case.
Contact Wertz Law Firm for expert guidance on Iowa Workers’ Compensation claims. We help injured workers understand the law and file claims to receive the benefits they deserve. Contact us today.