Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers: PTSD Awareness Month
June 8, 2017
If you know someone who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you know that it can be a debilitating condition that can affect virtually every aspect of a person’s life. Public safety workers including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, may be at higher risk for work-related PTSD as they are usually the first responders to a situation that often involves some sort of traumatic event or violent death. The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has designated June as PTSD Awareness Month in an effort to help people recognize the symptoms of PTSD and provide resources for those who are coping with the condition.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD vary widely from person to person, ranging from mild anxiety to violent behavior towards another person. The following are examples of some of the more common symptoms:
Mental and Emotional Symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Self-destructive or violent behavior
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Inability to focus
- Problems with memory
Physical Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Stomach ulcers
If an individual suffers from PTSD as a result of a work-related event, he or she may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits. The traumatic event that caused the mental stress injury must be abnormal, or something that would not be likely to occur during a regular work day. However, if the mental health condition was caused by a highly stressful event that happens to be part of the job, Workers’ Compensation may not cover this type of claim.
Depending on the nature of the condition, there are two types of PTSD claims that an individual can pursue. If the worker sustains physical injuries in a traumatic work-related accident, resulting in lasting PTSD symptoms even after the physical injuries have healed, he or she may file a Workers’ Compensation claim for the physical injuries, as well as the PTSD. If the worker witnesses a devastating accident which causes debilitating emotional scars, but there were no physical injuries, he or she would file a claim for PTSD only.
Benefits for PTSD
Workers’ Compensation generally provides the following benefits for injured employees, including those who suffer from PTSD:
- A percentage of lost wages
- Coverage for medical treatment related to the treatment of PTSD
- Payment for permanent mental health condition
- Coverage for the treatment of the workplace injury, including any physical or mental conditions
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Individuals Suffering from Work-Related PTSD
If you or someone you know suffers from PTSD as a result of a work-related injury, it is in your best interest to contact the skilled and experienced Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. Our dedicated team will ensure that you obtain the maximum benefits to which you are entitled so that you may begin the healing process after suffering from a traumatic event. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
