Workers’ Compensation and Stress Injuries

Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

There are many work-related injuries that seem like obvious candidates for a successful workers’ compensation claim. For example, slipping and falling off of a ladder while putting boxes away may seem like something that would clearly be grounds for getting your workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are other types of injuries that are not so obvious. What happens if you have a stress-induced injury or anxiety related to your work? Is there anything that you can do about it regarding workers’ compensation? The answer may not be so obvious. 

What does it mean to have work-related stress? 

When you have stress from your job, this can negatively impact you. As a lawyer, like a workers’ compensation lawyer from a law office like Hurwitz, Whitcher & Molloy, LLP knows, arguing for workers’ compensation benefits for stress-related injuries may not be so easy, especially depending on the state you live in. Many insurance companies will argue that simply having a job comes with stress. This can be important meetings coming up, pitching a marketing idea to your supervisor, or traveling for an on-site client visit. However, these types of events would not be considered severe stressors and necessary for workers’ compensation benefits. 

Signs of Severe Stress

If you are working with a local lawyer, they will want to show that the demands of your workplace were incredibly unbearable and that you were unable to fully cope with these demands. You may experience a range of symptoms from work-related stress, including:

  • Headaches 
  • Insomnia
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue/exhaustion
  • Depression 
  • Anxiety
  • Anxiety attacks or panic attacks
  • Mood swings, and
  • Suicidal thoughts 

These are just a few of the symptoms you may have after you have found that your workplace is causing too much stress in your life. 

How do I know if I am entitled to workers’ compensation benefits? 

Receiving benefits for work-related stress injuries is not always a simple task. Additionally, while a job may be stressful for one person it is not necessarily going to be stressful for the next. You will need to show that your work specifically caused you to have stress-related injuries and that it was not the result of any other outside factors (like your family or personal life). When you work with a lawyer, they can help to gather evidence, like witnesses’ statements, your typical job duties, and even video footage to help support your workers’ compensation claim. If you need help with your workers’ compensation claim for stress-related injuries, reach out to a local law firm to see how they can help you today.