Local Law Firms Home > Maritime Law Overview > Illness at Sea > Chronic Airway Disease Maritime Chronic Airway Disease People who work in jobs off-shore have it hard. Jobs are normally demanding in physical labor, have extensive hours, and dangerous work environments. Still, these jobs are important and need to get done somehow. But aside from the more obvious dangers of working such a rigorous job is the potential disease that one could catch. Infected equipment and environments can lead to diseases that can not only alter someone’s life but could potentially end their life. Have you or someone you know experienced chronic airway disease and have worked at an offshore job such as a ship or an oil rig? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer to discuss your case today. Chronic airway disease is a condition that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breath properly. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 10.1 million cases of this shows up per year. The condition is usually avoidable and usually only applies to heavy smokers. Still, this condition could be caught while working at sea though airborne bacteria. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects the body in the following ways:
According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a recent 12 month period showed that as many as 294,000 of visits to the emergency room were from patients suffering from this condition. As any hard working offshore employee knows, work is difficult enough with a regular breathing pattern, let alone a damaged one. This condition could cause a worker to miss work for an extended period of time. It could also result in high medical costs. Both of those factors mixed together could lead to disaster. There are laws in place for people who work offshore that can compensate them for their time lost at work due to illnesses and injuries and could even cover the necessary medical expenses. These laws could be difficult to navigate on your own. It is best to see a lawyer. If you or someone you is suffering from chronic airway disease, one of our experienced attorneys may be able to help. Contact a maritime lawyer in your area today. |