There is much attention in this country to the physical injuries that arise in the workplace, and for good reason. Many jobs involve a high amount of risk, and despite the risk being known to all, it is especially devastating when a person’s livelihood causes harm or death.
Most people associate workers’ compensation claims with physical injuries or illnesses that are caused in the workplace. The ailments have clear symptoms and treatments, and putting a claim value on such injuries is usually a fairly straightforward procedure. What many people do not realize is that after the injury heals—or even for people who only witnessed the injury—there can be lingering damage that is unseen, but equally debilitating.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Workplace Accidents
No matter how risky your job is, and how prepared you are in case of emergency or injury, nothing can prepare most people for the shock and stress that stems from a serious injury. For many people, anxiety and stress over the accident last long after the injuries have healed, and continue to affect people for long periods of time.
Most people associate post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, with veterans returning from combat. These men and women may have witnessed or been the victim of horrific violence and devastation, and the trauma from experiencing that event may stay with them for a lifetime. From intense depression and anxiety to erratic or violent behavior, PTSD affects everyone in a different manner, but the results are the same—the individual suffers greatly.
PTSD Is Not Unique to Only Combat Veterans
Many times, when someone is involved in a terrible workplace accident and is seriously injured or sees another coworker become injured or killed, the effect of the accident will remain with them for years. Many of the men and women who are involved in a workplace accident do not realize that beyond physical damages, they may be able to file a claim for their PTSD as well.
If you have witnessed or have been a part of a tragic work accident, you may want to speak to your doctor about possible PTSD. PTSD can manifest in harmful physical symptoms over time, and the mental anguish can often rob a person of their ability to work. PTSD is a condition that requires care and treatment just as a burn or broken bone would, and if your PTSD is the result of a work accident, you deserve to receive benefits that allow you to seek help.
If you are concerned that you may be suffering from PTSD, you must act quickly to ensure that you do not miss any workers’ compensation claim filing deadlines. While PTSD can be covered by these benefits, claims involving PTSD are not as common as injury claims. In order to give your claim the best chance at success, speak with an experienced Lancaster workers’ compensation attorney today.