NY Asbestos Decision Reversed

June 10, 2009

Recently, the New York Workers’ Compensation panel decided to overturn a decision that was made several years ago. The panel once said that a man’s work-related asbestos exposure from his job did not contribute to his developing throat cancer. The man died and his widow was denied workers’ compensation benefits because the workplace physician said that there was no link between the asbestos exposure and the type of cancer that the husband had died from.

The New York Workers’ Compensation panel is now reviewing old cases to determine if benefits can be given to the survivors of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related problems, and to their families. Those who suffer from cancers and diseases caused by asbestos exposure are now granted workers’ compensation benefits without question- as per federal regulations.

An individual can receive amounts of money to cover their medical expenses, lost wages from work and even certain physical and emotional damages if the employer forced the employee to be exposed to asbestos, knowingly or unknowingly.