For two years, Alexis Clemente worked as a hostess at a restaurant called Lavo in Midtown Manhattan. The restaurant is not just loud, but often dangerously so.
Inside the restaurant, the noise could average 96 decibels over the course of an hour. By comparison, a train hurtling downtown in Manhattan registered at 84 decibels. Legally, workers should not be exposed to that level of noise for more than three and a half hours without protection.
Exposure to the extreme noise levels at work caused Ms. Clemente to have significant hearing loss in her right ear. She was told to immediately stop working in loud environments to prevent it from getting worse. When she asked to be placed at the door, her employers refused and failed to offer her another position.
Work-related hearing loss is an example of an occupational exposure. This means that your injury developed over time, not because of a specific accident. NJ Workers' Compensation law recognizes both specific accident claims and occupational exposure claims. For either type of injury, you may be entitled to fully paid medical care, wage compensation, and a cash settlement for your injuries.
Because hearing loss is cumulative, it can be extremely difficult to prove that it is work-related. An experienced NJ work injury lawyer can help. The legal team at Manfred F. Ricciardelli, Jr., LLC has fought for workers' rights for over 20 years. We'll help you assemble the right evidence and get the benefits you need to recover.
Contact us today at 973-285-1100 to schedule your free, one-on-one consultation. If you decide to hire us, you won't pay us anything unless we win your case.