Most people feel some level of stress at work. But what if your job exposes you to a high level of stress on a daily basis—maybe you’re a police officer, emergency room nurse or firefighter. Or suppose you witness a traumatic event at work—the serious injury or death of a co-worker, or an act of workplace violence, such as a shooting. Are you entitled to file for workers’ compensation benefits if the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) make it difficult or impossible for you to do your job? The answer depends, but it’s clear that mental illness can be the basis for a workers’ compensation claim.

When you file for workers’ compensation benefits based on a mental illness, your claim will fall into one of three categories:

  • Physical-mental injuries
  • Mental-physical injuries
  • Mental-mental injuries

A physical-mental injury is one that is initially entirely physical, but ends up creating mental health challenges. For example, you might hurt your knee lifting boxes or performing some other task at work. If the knee doesn’t heal quickly, and you can’t maintain the active lifestyle you had before the injury, you may become depressed, and the depression can contribute to your inability to work.

A mental-physical injury works in exactly the opposite manner. You may be exposed, for example, to a high level of stress on your job, which in turn can elevate your blood pressure, or cause you to either gain or lose a lot of weight. High blood pressure or increased weight can put you at risk of stroke, heart attack or joint injury.

A mental-mental injury is one that starts with a psychological event and manifests with PTSD, such as witnessing a traumatic injury or act of violence.

Contact the Law Office of Taylor & Boguski

At Taylor & Boguski, we bring more than 70 years of combined legal experience to injured workers throughout New Jersey. For a free initial consultation, contact our office online or call us at 856-200-8989.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after an accident

After an accident, post-traumatic stress disorder is a common medical condition that can arise. In one such recent instance of crime related to post-traumatic stress disorder in the news, Jodi Arias who is 32 years-old, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. She was put on the stand in court for 18 days after killing her ex-boyfriend. She claims that because of her disorder she cannot remember the majority of her actions. Arias was charged with first degree murder but is claiming she killed him out of self-defense but doesn’t remember that she ever stabbed him over two dozen times, that his throat was ever slit or that he was shot in the head. Some doctors believe that memories can be limited and do not form when people experience acute stress since it their chemistry makeup under those conditions prevents it from forming. Arias could face the death penalty if she is convicted of this crime. Read here for more.

After an accident, PSTD is a common disorder which can form. In fact, PTSD can develop after a traumatic event that threatens your safety or is life-threatening. PTSD usually forms differently in person, and also varies from person to person. PTSD can develop hours or days after a traumatic event, but it can also form weeks, months, and even years later. For more information, see here. It is important to talk to an attorney in the wake of an accident, because PSTD is a disorder which should be considered when damages are awarded and calculated.

If you or someone you know is suffering from PSTD

The attorneys at Taylor & Boguski, LLC, are a South New Jersey law firm located in Mount Laurel. We represent clients in a variety of personal injury claims such as Psychiatric Injuries, Social Security Disability Claims, Brain Injuries, Back, Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, and many other injuries. Call 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233 for a free consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney. Get the legal advice you need from an experienced attorney so that your rights can be availed.