Under the new workers comp law, individuals who have sustained a mental illness, such as PTSD, because of an incident at their job can now apply for benefits. However, caution has to be taken to avoid the denial of these claims. They can be complicated and require a lot of medical evidence to back them up and proof that mental health was compromised because of an incident at work.
For instance, a person may have been robbed at gunpoint while on the job or they were at work and a former coworker came into the building with a gun and started shooting. Mental illnesses also result from physical injuries. There are a number of incidents that can occur on the job that can lead to compromised mental health.
A person who suffers from a mental illness may have difficulty focusing on their job. They may make unintentional mistakes or judgements that could put others in danger. When workers compensation Minnesota workers need to recover is granted to them, they can return to work at some point.
However, an individual has to be granted benefits first.
In 2011, a total of 12.3 percent of claims were denied. The average percentage of claims that are initially denied stands at around 25 percent.
In the workers’ compensation world, injuries are classified as mental-mental, such as when a traumatic event happens at work, and physical-mental, such as those when a physical injury results in a mental illness. Depression tends to develop from a physical injury with post-traumatic stress disorder is the most common mental illness resulting from work situations.
To decrease the chance of your mental health claim being denied by the workers’ comp insurance company, consulting with an attorney will give you the information that you need. Second, you will need medical records to back up your claim. This means ensuring that your doctor records everything about your condition, the treatments you are receiving, and other relevant information. The medical records are the most significant proof that you have.
You also have to ensure that all documents are filled out correctly, which your attorney can help you with. The claims process can seem rather confusing, but your attorney can simplify it for you and ensure it moves along smoothly and quickly for you.
If your case is one of the 75% of cases that are denied initially, you and your attorney can appeal by providing the information that the insurance company requests. Sometimes they may need more supporting information regarding the condition in order to determine eligibility and the type of compensation that you require.
If you are suffering from work-related PTSD, it’s important to file your workers’ comp claim as soon as possible. Call us on: 507-779-7529 or email: info@katolaw.com to schedule a FREE consultation.
