Thursday, August 23, 2018

Can I Obtain Workers’ Compensation for PTSD?





For physical injuries, making a workers’ compensation claim is sometimes simple. It mostly comes down to getting a medical assessment, understanding your injury, and obtaining benefits based on its severity. On the other hand, sometimes employees experience severe mental issues, like PTSD. These types of claims are much harder to prove and much more complicated. If you suspect you have PTSD, you may want to talk to a mental health professional. Next, you can speak with a St. Louis workers compensation attorney and figure out if you are eligible for compensation. For now, you can learn the basics of PTSD and workers’ compensation by reading the contents below.




What is PTSD?


Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental issue that is faced by people who witness or take part in an exceptionally traumatic event. Numerous clues and symptoms characterize PTSD, but the most common are nightmares, unwanted memories, heightened reactions, depression, and anxiety. PTSD describes episodes that are recurring.




Possible Causes


Traumatic events cause PTSD. The typical case is a soldier who took part in a war, but other professions produce these types of events too. Some examples are an EMT being called to a horrific crime scene, a police officer failing to rectify a hostage situation, and a school teacher seeing a student die in a school shooting.




Can I Get Workers’ Compensation For it?


The short answer to this question is “yes.” That being said, your case may not be easy. You’ll need to prove that your disorder is real and that it is significantly affecting your life. If you can, then you may be deemed eligible for workers compensation benefits.




Proving PTSD


To get benefits, you will need to prove three things. First, that you have PTSD. The best way to do this is by talking to a mental health professional. They will assess your mental state, diagnose you, and put you on a treatment plan. Second, you need to prove that it is a result of your employment. This should not be difficult, as there will likely be a record of the event. Lastly, you need to prove that your PTSD has negatively impacted you significantly.




Benefits You Can Receive


One area that you can target is recovering treatment costs. The mental health industry is not cheap, and you may incur significant costs while treating your disorder. Another is lost wages. Your PTSD may inhibit your ability to do your job effectively. If this is the case, you can recover benefits to counteract that effect.




If you develop a case of PTSD from a work-related event, you will need to get medical treatment to help manage it. Fortunately, you may not have to pay for this assistance on your own. Instead, you might have a valid workers’ compensation claim. To explore this option, speak with an experienced St. Louis workers comp attorney as soon as possible. Call us 24/7 at (314) 361-4300 for a FREE Case Evaluation.

Friday, January 12, 2018

How to Report Your Work-Related Injury in Missouri



When it comes to workers’ compensation claims, there are very specific steps that you must take in Missouri that can make the difference between receiving compensation and having your claim denied. There are procedures that need to be followed and time constraints that need to be adhered to. If you aren’t sure what they are, you need either to talk to the human resources department of your workplace, or get clarification from a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer.

It is imperative that you report your injury to your supervisor or your employer when it happens. Even if you think that it is nothing serious and you don’t want to make a fuss, sometimes those things that seem harmless can quickly become harmful. And since one condition of eligibility for workers’ compensation is notifying your employer or supervisor, it is crucial that you let the proper people know if you are injured in any way while you are at work. It is not enough to tell a co-worker or someone who doesn’t hold a management position. You need to tell someone who is your superior immediately and make sure that an incident report is made out properly.




Read: Urgent! Start Here?

Usually just verbally making your employer aware of your injuries is enough. But to ensure that you can prove that you were injured while working, putting it in writing is the best assurance there is. If you verbally tell them the day it happens, and then make a written statement after you seek medical care, that is the best way to handle it. If you do put something in writing, make sure that you make a copy to prove that you did. Just because you say you did doesn’t mean that they won’t claim that you never gave them anything. It is always best to trust, but have proof - just in case.

Typically, you have 30 days to notify your employer of your injury. But there is no reason to wait if you feel you have been injured while performing under the scope of your work-related duties. If you know that you sustained an injury, even if you don’t know to what extent, it is essential that you make it known instead of waiting to find out if the injury is extensive or to what degree you have hurt yourself.

Workers’ compensation insurance is what an employer is mandated to carry to cover injured workers in the state of Missouri. There are very specific rules related to making a claim for workers compensation, and one of them is to notify your employer or supervisor of your injury as soon as you realize it.

For additional security, you can make a written claim and either fax, email, or have a copy sent certified mail, so that there is no question of whether you notified your employer or not. It is also a good idea to speak with an experienced workers compensation attorney to ensure that you understand what you may be entitled to and to protect your right to compensation.






If you have been injured on the job in the state of Missouri, an experienced Missouri workers compensation attorney at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann can evaluate your workers comp claim free of charge. Call (314) 361-4300 today for a free consultation.