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State by state, worker’s compensation is changing. With so many workers finding themselves exposed to Covid-19 on the job, worker’s compensation has evolved to help ease the burden of contracting the virus. On average, people suffering from Covid-19 will see symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks. However, doctors are noting an estimated 10% of coronavirus cases are becoming long-haulers. How will this affect worker’s compensation in the future?

The knowledgeable attorneys at Gross & Kenny, LLP are here to see that you receive the compensation you deserve. Pennsylvania is among the states who have taken steps to classify having Covid-19 caused by work exposures to be considered an injury or occupational disease. If you have been injured at work, call a workers’ compensation attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, today. New laws will affect your claim. Make sure you protect yourself and your family. Call the dedicated attorneys at Gross & Kenny, LLP today.

What is a Covid-19 Long-hauler?

Coronavirus symptoms affect everyone differently. As it stands in the US:

• There have been 30.3 million cases with 550,734 fatalities
• 22,448,217 have recovered

As year enter year two of the pandemic, officials are noticing that 10% of recovered cases are battling long-term symptoms. A new study shows 1 in 8 who have recovered from the virus die within 5 months. The symptoms include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Lung scarring
• Coughing
• Joint pain
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches
• Loss of taste and smell, even if it didn’t appear at the peak of the illness
• Brain fog
• Headaches
• Disturbed sleep patterns

Those with lingering symptoms are considered coronavirus long-haulers. It still isn’t clear whether there some symptoms will be permanent.

How Will This Affect Worker’s Compensation?

Industry officials are seeing the trends in the medical community of long-haulers and are concerned. There are still so many unknowns about the virus and whether there will be permanent damage. Long-term disability is at the peak of discussions.

What does this mean for you?

While filing a workers’ compensation claim may seem simple in theory, ever-changing laws and the virus’s uncertainty can leave a lot of holes. As the injured worker, how do you prove you contracted the virus at work? Could you have been exposed at the grocery store? What about your children at school or your spouse at work? Could you have contracted the virus from them instead?

Rich Lenkov, a capital member and head of the worker’s compensation practice at Bryce Downey & Lenkov LLC in Chicago, states, “I think it’s a hard case to prove. (The worker) still has to prove that they developed COVID from work.”

“You’re opening Pandora’s box if you accept the claims out of a sense of good faith and sympathy. If you accept (coronavirus claims), you do so at your own peril.”

If you have contracted Covid-19 at work, don’t rely on “good faith,” as Lenkov describes. Gross & Kenny, LLP will fight on your behalf to ensure you receive the worker’s compensation benefits you are entitled to.

Why You Need Gross & Kenny, LLP

The highly sought attorneys at Gross & Kenny, LLP can help you navigate the changing workers’ compensation laws. When you need a workers’ compensation lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you need Gross & Kenny, LLP. Contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 215-512-1500.