Psychiatric Injuries
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Helping Chicago Residents in Claims for Benefits
At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers help employees who have suffered from psychiatric injuries, such as depression or PTSD, in the course of their employment. Various injuries fall under the coverage of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, including psychological stress, trauma, and occupational disease. For decades, our seasoned attorneys have successfully secured benefits for workers entitled to compensation for their work-related injuries. We understand that each case is unique, and often, the success of a claim rests on demonstrating a connection between the condition and the workplace. If you or someone close to you has suffered a psychiatric injury, whether it is accompanied by a physical injury or not, we can assist you in each phase of your claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Employees are Entitled to Benefits for Psychiatric Injuries Suffered at Work
As a type of work-related harm, psychiatric injuries are compensable under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Employees may suffer emotional shock, which can be traced to a time, place, and cause that has led to their psychiatric harm. Under these circumstances, there may not be apparent physical harm. For example, an employee who witnesses an accident or is exposed to trauma at the workplace may be deemed to have suffered a psychiatric injury, whether or not they were injured in an accident or suffered from an occupational disease.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commision (IWCC) reviews claims and issues decisions concerning entitlement to benefits and compensation for psychiatric work-related injuries. Psychiatric injuries such as mental stress can be caused by physical trauma or non-physical injuries. In cases in which there are only psychiatric claims for compensation, it is imperative to show that the worker suffered a sudden, shocking event or that the mental trauma was extraordinary, and the work condition substantially caused the psychiatric issue.
In order to prove eligibility for compensation, which includes medical expenses, lost wages from work, and disability benefits, injured workers must show that their psychiatric injury was caused by work or work-related conditions. Psychiatric injuries can occur in a variety of workplaces, such as retail jobs or the health care industry. While some work-related psychiatric injuries may result from a single, traumatic incident, others may be chronic, having developed over time. According to law, psychiatric injuries in any type of situation must be greater than a typical, daily stress, and the mental conditions suffered by the employee must have objectively existed.
Often, a work-related episode that has caused an employee to suffer a sudden, serious shock, leading to an immediate disability, will entitle the employee to recover benefits. These injured employees should not delay in seeking medical treatment for their psychiatric injuries. Documented treatment supports a finding that workers were in fact in need of “immediate” treatment. In some situations, employees who suffer a psychiatric injury may have spent time at a hospital. In nearly all successful workers’ compensation claims for psychiatric injuries, the testimony or opinion of a treating physician indicates that a workplace accident or a workplace situation caused the injury.
Consult an Experienced Chicago Attorney to Help with Your Claim for Benefits
If you need to better understand the specific nature of your psychiatric injury and whether you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, the job injury attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can help. As we investigate and advocate for your right to compensation according to Illinois law, our AV-rated firm provides personalized, thorough representation. We work with medical professionals, including mental health providers and counselors, in order to set forth the true extent of a psychiatric injury and its effect on your inability to return to your former employment. Our team of Chicago lawyers helps workers assert their rights against employers and insurance companies throughout the state, including those in Rockford, Champaign, Aurora, Springfield, and Quincy, as well as other areas of Winnebago, Champaign, Kane, Adams, and Cook Counties. In our commitment to providing quality legal assistance, we provide a free consultation. Our office can be reached by calling 312-724-5846 or using our online form.