While lawyers and judges are the ultimate legal experts, of course, I believe that every citizen should take the time to learn a little about law for several reasons. First, it is important to know your rights, and knowing them can come in handy if anyone ever accuses you of a crime you didn't commit or threatens you legally in another other way. Second, learning about your local, state, and federal laws can help you act as a better citizen. When election time comes around, you can then truly understand ever change in law being proposed by a candidate and whether it benefits society or not. I plan to share posts about law topics explained in plain English on my new blog, so you can come back often to sharpen your legal knowledge!
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Personal Injury Law: Navigating the Path to Compensation 7 February 2024
Everyone Should Learn a Little about Law
Can Your Job Give You PTSD? And Can You File A WC Claim For It?
Kaylee Wells
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anybody who has gone through or even witnessed a traumatic event. It's possible for your job to trigger PTSD. Unfortunately, filing a workers compensation claim for PTSD can become an uphill battle. The good news is it's not an unwinnable battle. Here's what you should know.
Linking Your PTSD to Your Job
The way people experience trauma varies from person to person. What you find traumatic, another person may find funny. Just about anything can stress you to the point that you develop PTSD.
Your workplace isn't immune to terrible events. You can have a terrible accident, or witness violence, or survive an attack. The trigger doesn't have to represent something so severe either. Something like bullying at the workplace, or other work-related anxieties, can also lead to PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
Many people go to work with PTSD and never even realize it. Much like the triggers for PTSD, the signs of it can vary from person to person as well.
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Constant thought about certain traumas
- Constant vigilance
- Detachment
- Substance abuse
It's even possible to feel physical pain due to PTSD. You may have inexplicable headaches, nausea, or sourceless pain. The signs and symptoms can vary greatly, which is one of the things that can make it hard to pursue a WC claim.
The signs may all exist in your mind, which can make them hard to articulate. The symptoms may not show up immediately. When they do show up, it's possible no one else will see what's wrong.
States View Mental and Physical Conditions Differently
It can become difficult to pursue a WC claim for PTSD without some physical sign of trauma. When the ailment represents a purely mental one, state laws can become tricky to navigate. In some cases, it's better to claim a symptom of the PTSD rather than PTSD itself.
No matter what, all the same rules apply when you're seeking WC for PTSD. Seek medical attention, follow all the rules, and document everything. You have to deal with your condition as best you can to show it's a viable one. Don't just seek an evaluation and leave it at that.
You should also speak to a workers compensation attorney like Erickson Law Office. Your attorney can help you to figure out the best steps to take to give yourself the best chance of receiving your WC. Look for an attorney's office with a history of dealing with WC claims for mental illness in general, and PTSD specifically.
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