Coal mining currently keeps most of the country running, but it is a profession fraught with danger. Although modern equipment has made coal mining safer and more efficient, coal miners still face health concerns due to the dangers of working underground or around heavy equipment and dangerous chemicals. If you are or used to be a coal miner and suffer from injuries or illnesses due to the following issues, a coal miner attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Chronic Chemical Exposure
Coal miners often work in confined spaces and rely on ventilation equipment to ensure they don't breathe in dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, coal dust, or other chemicals. Carbon monoxide exposure can cause short-term medical problems like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and mood swings. Long-term carbon monoxide exposure can cause debilitating health issues, including numbness, vision problems, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Frequent exposure to coal dust can cause diseases like miner's pneumoconiosis, asthma, and lung cancer. If you worked for several years or even decades as a coal miner and you have any of these medical problems, you likely developed them as a result of your work environment.
Physical Injuries
Coal miners don't just have to contend with dangers in the air they breathe; they also face danger from defective mining equipment and poor mining practices. Modern mining equipment, including roof bolters, longwall mining machines, and continuous mining machines, needs to be meticulously maintained to ensure the safety of every employee in the mine. Mining machines also must be used only in areas that have been verified as safe. Without rigorous adherence to safety and maintenance protocols, devastating accidents can occur, causing long-term injuries. If you have been injured as a result of a cave-in or mining equipment malfunction, a lawyer can help you pay for your medical needs.
To help you get the maximum amount of compensation possible for your injuries, a lawyer will start by gathering evidence of your employer's negligence and your medical condition. They will use that evidence to create a lawsuit against your employer or your employer's insurance company and will fight for your right to compensation. Your case will be a specialized type of personal injury case, so you likely won't have to pay for your lawyer's services upfront. Instead, your lawyer will take a cut of your compensation as payment. The amount of money you get should be enough to cover your medical bills and your lawyer's fees.
To learn more, contact a coal miner injury attorney in your area.
