PTSD

Work Injury Lawyers Representing Chicago Residents

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that often follows a specific, traumatic incident. Illinois workers’ compensation laws provide benefits and compensation to employees who have been hurt in an attack or have witnessed a traumatic event while performing their work duties. Proving the symptoms and work-related causes of PTSD can prove challenging for workers’ compensation claimants, and at the law firm of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we have experience overcoming the challenges advanced by insurance companies seeking to dispute or minimize claims for benefits. Our Chicago work injury lawyers set forth strong evidence on behalf of injured employees, compelling employers to cover medical care and lost wages for victims who have a valid PTSD claim.

Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits for PTSD Due to a Workplace Accident or Attack

In most situations, employees develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a single traumatic incident. According to Illinois law, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) provides compensation for PTSD. When employees have been involved in an attack, such as a physical assault at work, they may suffer from mental health issues that entitle them to workers’ compensation benefits. In other situations, employees may witness traumatic events while performing work duties, such as the death of a co-worker. As a work-related injury, PTSD entitles an employee to benefits for medical costs, which may include psychological treatment and counseling. As a mental condition, PTSD falls in the categories of covered injuries, provided that the triggering event took place at work or occurred during the course and scope of the worker’s employment.

Making a strong case for compensation before the IWCC is important, since post-traumatic stress disorder can be difficult to correctly diagnose. Often, employees suffering from PTSD deal with anxiety, endure nightmares, and are irritable or anti-social. Physically, workers who suffer from PTSD may have headaches, heart problems, and fatigue, among other symptoms. Proving the severity of PTSD or a related condition may involve utilizing the carefully documented testimony of a treating mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. These professionals can set forth reported symptoms and provide a written opinion concerning how the symptoms limit an employee’s ability to work.

If an employee sets forth a valid claim, employers are required by law to cover medical treatments and lost wages for injured employees suffering from the effects of PTSD. The type of medical care that may be involved for people suffering from PTSD often includes therapy and treatment intended to repair the psychological damage. Whether an employee is entitled to permanent disability benefits, temporary disability benefits, or partial disability benefits through the workers’ compensation system depends on assessing their improvement based on their treatment. A skilled medical professional will likely provide written testimony concerning the claimant’s treatment and progress.

Hire a Chicago Attorney to Help Bring Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you or someone close to you suffers from PTSD due to an incident that took place in the scope of employment, the dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can aggressively fight for your right to benefits. We can help file a strong claim and pursue your workers’ compensation case through all of the potential appeals, meeting the strict deadlines set forth by Illinois law. Working with doctors, mental health specialists, and counselors, we can develop the evidence necessary to prove the impact of PTSD upon your ability to work. Our Chicago attorneys have helped injured employees throughout many areas of Illinois, including in Champaign, Aurora, Rockford, Quincy, and Springfield, as well as other areas of Kane, Champaign, Winnebago, Cook, and Adams Counties. We understand the overwhelming nature of substantial medical costs and missed wages, and we are here to assist you with resolving your concerns and alleviating your burdens. Call our office at 312-724-5846 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer, or you can contact us online.