People often associate workers comp claims with physical injuries sustained at the workplace, like a fall, back injury, or carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the worker or employee may also suffer from psychological injuries due to their job, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, depression and even nightmares. Psychological and emotional injuries may manifest themselves in different ways, such as general depression, emotional mood swings for no apparent reason, and even flashbacks of the incident. These psychological injuries are also covered under workers’ comp.
Common psychological work-related injuries
Some common work-related mental illnesses that are reported include sleeping disorders, anxiety, and clinical depression. The worker or employee may also suffer from psychological overlay, a term used for a mental condition caused due to a physical injury. Example of psychological overlay is a sleeping disorder caused as a result of a neck injury or any other physical injury sustained at the job. Psychological overlay is a consequence of a work injury and is therefore eligible for workers’ comp.
Causes of psychological injuries
Although it may seem that most work-related psychological injuries are a result of a physical injury sustained at the job, there may be other reasons as well. For example, a psychological condition may be brought on by sexual harassment at the workplace. It may even be caused by a hostile work environment or workplace discrimination. Victims suffering from any of these conditions as a result of working on the job are entitled to workers’ comp. In cases where the psychological injuries are caused due to a physical injury, the worker is often left to deal with healing their physical injuries, as well as dealing with the added mental stress and anxiety, which escalates the issue further.
A worker or employee may also suffer psychological injuries if they have been part of a traumatic event, or if they have witnessed one at the job. Such an injury may manifest itself as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Medical professionals, firefighters and law enforcement personnel witness traumatic and disturbing incidents very commonly on their job. Some of these events may even be violent and horrific.
If a worker files a workers’ compensation claim related to psychiatric conditions or psychological injuries because of their job, their claim may be quickly denied. Such claims are often unfairly dismissed; therefore, it is advised to contact an experienced and qualified attorney or law firm who can stand up to employers and insurance companies who deny these claims. The attorney or law firm should have experience handling cases that involve all types of psychological and psychiatric conditions, as well as other types of workplace injuries. The attorney or law firm you contact will fight for your rights and get you the compensation which you are entitled to. Almost all attorneys handling workers’ comp claims work on a contingency fee basis, which means if they can get no recovery, they will not charge you anything.
If you think you are suffering from an undesirable mental condition as a result of your work or a work-related incident, which is causing you to perform below your competency level, stop wasting time and get in touch with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney right away.
Author Bio:
Call Holmes Law Office for real property advice, preparation of documents, mortgages,title opinions & land contracts and bankruptcy consultation.
