Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
and Workers' Compensation Law
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after someone participates in or witnesses a traumatic event. A police officer who is involved in a shooting or a construction worker who sees a coworker fall to his death from a scaffold may develop PTSD.
PTSD and Illinois Workers' Compensation Law
Illinois workers compensation law covers disability caused by post-traumatic stress disorder if cause of the disorder is work related. Yet workman's comp insurance companies frequently deny claims for work-related PTSD.
If you have developed PTSD because of an on-the-job accident or injury, attorney Francis J. Discipio can help you receive the workers' compensation benefits you deserve. He knows how workers' compensation law relates to PTSD claims. He has won benefits for numerous clients who suffered from this debilitating condition, including members of several law enforcement organizations in the Chicago area.
Symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Hearing, seeing or smelling things that aren't there
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Irritability or anger
- Difficulty with relationships
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
- Hopelessness about the future
- "Survivor's guilt"
- Trouble sleeping
- Memory problems
- Trouble concentrating
- Not enjoying activities you once enjoyed
Symptoms typically emerge within three months of the incident, but can sometimes appear years later.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults, but children can develop it, too. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or an anxiety disorder.
PTSD Treatment
Once diagnosed, PTSD can be treated successfully with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Whether you developed PTSD because of a work-related assault, rape, car accident, train wreck, plane crash, bombing, or other cause, contact our workers' compensation lawyer to discuss your case. We offer a free initial consultation.
