Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with soldiers who have come home from active war zones. Although it certainly affects many soldiers who have seen combat, it is not limited to individuals who served in the military. PTSD can affect anybody who experiences or witnesses a traumatic experience, such as being held hostage at gunpoint or witnessing an accident that results in another individual’s death. If you experience this type of experience in your workplace, you can potentially seek workers’ compensation to cover the costs of your treatment and a percentage of the money you are unable to earn due to being out of work to recover.
Workers’ compensation claims are not the same as personal injury claims. If you are considering filing a workers’ compensation claim, you need to be proactive and notify your supervisor of your condition within the amount of time required by your state’s law. The money you receive through a workers’ compensation claim comes from your company’s workers’ compensation policy, which is a type of insurance policy.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD is a condition that individuals develop as a response to a traumatic experience. Sometimes, symptoms develop within a few months and other times, they do not develop until years after the initial trauma. Examples of PTSD symptoms include:
- A pronounced startle response;
- Flashbacks to the event;
- Distrust of others;
- Anxiety;
- Social isolation;
- Hostility;
- Insomnia;
- Nightmares;
- Emotional detachment;
- Self-destructive behavior.
PTSD can be treated with a variety of therapy methods, such as psychotherapy, as well as antidepressants. If you think you could be suffering from PTSD, talk to your doctor about it. Despite increased awareness of mental illness, many individuals still feel a stigma attached to seeking help and as a result, do not get the help they need.
Your Occupation Matters
Whether you can receive workers’ compensation for a PTSD claim or not can depend on your occupation. Individuals in certain occupations are expected to handle traumatic experiences, such as police officers. If you are in this line of work, it can be more difficult for you to receive workers’ compensation for your PTSD because it is not considered to be unusual for your type of work. However, this all depends on the state you are in – in some states, a PTSD claim does not have to be “unusual”
based on the claimant’s occupation. In others, it does. Talk to your attorney about filing a workers’ compensation claim for PTSD in your state to determine whether you are able to receive this coverage.
Work with a La Crosse Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Even though it does not have physical symptoms, PTSD is a serious condition that can have a substantial impact on your life. If you are suffering from PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event in your workplace, consider filing a claim for workers’ compensation to cover your medical bills and lost wages as you recover. Speak with one of the experienced La Crosse workers’ compensation attorneys at Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. during your free initial consultation to learn more about this process and what you can expect from it.