Whether it's an officer responding to a horrific accident, a construction worker witnessing a serious injury or death, or a railroad worker experiencing a traumatic event, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise from a number of different workplace situations. In order to qualify for PTSD workers compensation benefits, a worker had to have experienced or been witness to a traumatic event while working, which directly caused mental, emotional, and/or physical symptoms that have interfered with their ability to work.
Individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder can suffer a wide variety of emotional, mental, and physical symptoms as the result of witnessing a severe accident or traumatic event. Below are a number of different symptoms that can occur as the result of PTSD.
Mental/Emotional Symptoms:
- Flashbacks
- Depression/Anxiety
- Nightmares/Night terrors
- Irritability/Easily Startled
- Cognitive Problems
Physical Symptoms:
- Headaches/Migraines
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Attacks
- Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Fatigue
Due to its nature, filing for and winning a PTSD workers compensation case can be difficult to achieve. There will likely be a great deal of skepticism involved, whether that's from an insurance company, the state of Illinois, or your employer.
Below are a number of ways you can increase your chances of obtaining compensation for your work-related PTSD:
- Obtain necessary treatment from a mental health specialist
- Make sure you tell the specialist and/or your doctor of the traumatic work related event
- Document your PTSD reactions in a notebook
Workers comp cases for individuals with late-onset PTSD can be even more challenging, but are possible. The benefits that individuals may receive when filing for workers compensation benefits based on PTSD varies greatly on a case by case basis. The impact and extent of your limitations and inability to perform your work will influence the scope of your benefits.
Ultimately, it's crucial that you seek treatment for any symptoms you experience immediately following a traumatic event, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney dedicated to helping injured victims receive justice and fair compensation. At Lipkin & Apter, our attorneys are experienced in working with PTSD workers compensation cases, and have achieved successful results.