Post-traumatic stress disorder can leave a significant impact on your personal and professional lives. You might be going through a lot of pressure which leaves you unable to focus on key aspects of your life. So, if you are wondering if Texas workers’ comp covers you for PTSD, then we are here to give you all the details.
We will discuss a few crucial things when it comes to workers’ comp for your PTSD case. Let’s start by getting more insight into the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder.
What Is the Definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a condition, and it occurs when an individual is suffering from a disturbing mental condition because of being a part of a traumatic accident. There are traumatic incidents in a person’s life that can leave a devastating impact on their mental health. It includes:
- Natural Disaster
- War
- Accidents
- Assault or harassment
These are just a few examples of incidents that can leave a person traumatized. PTSD acts up in multiple ways by triggering various emotions that intervene in a person’s ability to carry out a basic task.
Does Texas Workers’ Comp Cover PTSD?
The Texas workers’ comp laws have a clear policy regarding PTSD. Before filing for a claim, the worker seeking the compensation needs a psychologist or psychiatrist to do a proper diagnosis of their mentioned condition. It must comply with the standards for PTSD set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The coverage of the PTSD will be under a mental injury. It is when the employee did not get any physical injuries but became a part of traumatic incidents because of which they are now suffering from this condition. In addition, it can also be covered as a mental injury which is due to a physical injury at their workplace.
Frequent Claims Regarding PTSD:
PTSD is common for people in any sector or profession. It can impact them due to traumatic incidents that happened at their workplace. First responders and people in the law enforcement agencies, such as police officers, health line workers, and other relevant professions, are prone to suffer from PTSD.
In addition, people working in labor-intensive industries, such as shipping, manufacturing, construction, and other sectors, can be witnesses to an accident. They can be a witness of an injury or death of their peers, which can leave a devastating impact on their mental health.
Let’s go over some of the common symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
An individual going through PTSD can be facing many symptoms, including
- Stress
- Flashbacks regarding the incident
- Mood swings and rage
- Feelings of apprehension
- Sadness
- Isolation
- Difficulties with concentration or attention
- Hallucinations or bad dreams
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Self-destructive or aggressive actions
Furthermore, a person can go through severe symptoms where it can hamper their personal, professional, or social life.
Incidents of PTSD at Work:
Various incidents at your workplace can be the reason why PTSD occurs. It can be due to a threat, sexual harassment, injury, or death which can be the reason for PTSD. Here are some of the common causes for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder:
- People in the frontline, such as health workers or law enforcement agencies (including firefighters, police officers, etc.) witnessing a violent incident involving someone’s death
- Individuals seeing the death of their coworkers due to shooting
- Sexual harassment or assault
- Individuals witnessing their coworker’s injuries due to any incident
Benefits Under Workers’ Comp for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Different state laws give coverage so workers can get treatment for their PTSD. The benefits that you can receive under workers’ compensation are:
- Disability Benefits (Temporary): The employee can get compensation for their time off from work to recover from PTSD
- Disability Benefits (Permanent): In case of impairment, the employee can get disability benefits due to their inability to work.
- Treatment Compensation: The employee can get compensation for their treatment including coverage for therapy and other prescriptions.
Get the Services of the Best Workers’ Comp Lawyer:
If you or your close ones are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, then you can get compensation as per the Texas workers’ comp by hiring the services of Houston injury lawyers. We have years of experience under our belt, which helps us to give proper guidance to our clients.
We can help build a strong case of your PTSD compensation by reviewing all the evidence and covering every aspect. Give us a call today at 346-220-1821 to discuss your case.