Workers’ Compensation Claims for PTSD After a Workplace Incident
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It can develop after a distressing event on the job, such as a violent attack, workplace accident, or other trauma. If you develop PTSD after an incident that happens at work, you could qualify for workers’ compensation.
North Carolina law allows workers to receive benefits for mental health conditions like PTSD under certain conditions. The key issue in most PTSD claims is showing a strong link between the event and your diagnosis. Unlike many physical injuries, PTSD often does not show up right away, and symptoms can vary. Still, you have the right to file a claim if the condition requires medical treatment or makes it difficult or impossible to work.
Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation for PTSD
You must prove that your job exposed you to a traumatic event to qualify for workers’ compensation for PTSD in North Carolina. You also must show that the PTSD resulted directly from that event, not from something unrelated.
Your doctor will need to confirm the diagnosis and explain how the trauma caused your condition. You must report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and file a formal claim to receive benefits.
Challenges in PTSD Workers’ Compensation Claims
PTSD workers’ compensation claims are difficult, but not impossible, to win in North Carolina. The law does not automatically cover all mental health conditions. You must prove that the trauma was job-related and that your symptoms did not come from personal issues or past events.
Insurance companies often deny workplace post-traumatic stress claims, arguing that pre-existing mental health issues caused the condition or that the event was not severe enough to warrant benefits. Delays in diagnosis or missing medical records can also hurt your case. PTSD cases usually require strong medical evidence, witness statements, and clear documentation of how the trauma has affected your ability to work.
Benefits Available for PTSD Workers’ Comp Claims
If your PTSD claim is approved, workers’ compensation can provide several types of benefits. You can receive payments that cover medical care, including therapy, medication, and hospital stays. You could also receive partial wage-replacement benefits if you cannot work or can work only part-time due to your condition.
In some cases, benefits can include vocational rehabilitation assistance to help you train for a new job. The amount and duration of benefit payments will depend on your symptoms, recovery time, and ability to return to work. If your condition affects you long-term, you could qualify for extended disability benefits as part of your PTSD workers’ compensation settlement.
How Ward Black Law Can Help with Your PTSD Claim
Ward Black Law helps workers across North Carolina file strong workers’ compensation claims and fight back after denials or undervalued claims. When you come to us for help with your PTSD claim, our team will listen to your story, review your case, and explain your options clearly.
Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. You don’t have to go through this alone.