If you have sustained post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of a traumatic event at work, you can seek benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation system. These benefits can help you recover financially after sustaining losses because of the injury. But fighting for the benefits you need can be hard because of the specific requirements set by the state. If you file a claim, you report the injury to your employer within thirty days of the incident. Your claim should be filed with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission within 2 years of the injury. It is important to document your treatment to ensure you have medical evidence of your injury.
However, a lot of claims for PTSD are denied for various reasons. This makes it important to get legal advice. An experienced lawyer can help you create a strong claim from the get-go and appeal it when it is denied.
Proving Your Claim for PTSD
Insurance companies may blame external factors like family stress and money issues for causing PTSD to avoid paying claims. To ensure you have a strong claim you need to prove that a job-related accident or events directly resulted in your PTSD. Below are some of the possible scenarios:
- PTSD developed after a job-related injury. If you suffered a serious injury on the job, you may be afraid to go to the same job because you fear it might happen again. Workplace violence, a car accident, and an accident that involves machinery can cause you to develop PTSD once you have recovered from your injury.
- PTS caused by an abrupt fright at work. You could develop PTSD after witnessing a colleague die or suffer serious injuries can lead to psychological damage.
- PTSD developed eventually through a series of events. With some jobs, workers can be exposed to traumatic events regularly. Medical personnel, police officers, and firefighters can witness horrific events several times during their careers. Eventually, such events can result in psychological issues such as PTSD.
How an Attorney Can Help with Your Claim
Living with a psychological challenge like PTSD can make daily living hard and can ruin your relationships. The financial effects of not being able to go to work and paying for significant psychiatric treatment can make everything even tougher. If you develop PTSD because of a work-related event, you may be able to seek compensation benefits. A skilled attorney can collect evidence for you such as incident reports, medical reports, surveillance videos, photos, and witness statements. They can help you prepare a strong claim and offer documentation to your employer.