If you’ve been injured on the job, you’ve likely already noticed an unexpected effect the experience had on you: emotional disturbances.
Accidents big and small can be traumatic. That’s why worker’s compensation in Wisconsin can cover mental stress in addition to or causing physical injuries because it’s necessary to get the treatment you need to recover emotionally as well as physically.
Some common impacts a work injury can have on mental health include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), occurring either temporarily or longer term
- Depression, varying from mild to severe
- Anxiety, including new phobias or fear
- Difficulty sleeping
- Flashbacks to the accident that disrupt daily life
Getting back on your feet after a traumatic physical accident is often a holistic process involving healing both mind and body. Pay attention to the range of any new troubles you may have with your emotional wellness.
If a worker contracts COVID-19 due to their job duties, they also need to pay attention to their mental state, even if they had a good recovery. Due to the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty surrounding the condition, if a worker tests positive and has to be hospitalized, this event and experience may result in a long-term psychological condition. The need for psychological care can be covered under workers’ compensation.
Determining worker’s compensation for mental health stress
Notably, Wisconsin law makes a distinction between physical injuries (with resulting mental health needs), and mental stress alone without bodily harm. A purely mental stress claim (without a physical trauma) has a higher legal standard to bring a workers’ compensation claim.
Even if you manage to escape from a work accident without injury, you may still experience extreme stress like PTSD that needs treatment. Work with an attorney to help determine how much worker’s compensation you’re entitled to based on the extent of your injuries and harm. Insurance companies often do anything they can to avoid paying people the full amount they should be receiving, and a lawyer can help navigate that.
It’s critical not to ignore the mental strain you may endure following an accident. There are ways to manage the emotional strain that comes with a traumatic event, and treatment for it should be prioritized just as much as treatment for a physical injury.
