Psychiatric Injuries

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Serving Schaumburg and Wheaton

Just because a mental injury can’t be seen doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Psychiatric injuries can have severe consequences for an employee. In fact, these types of injuries can adversely affect a worker’s day to day life just as much as a physical injury. If you have suffered any type of psychiatric injury at work, you can consult a Schaumburg or Wheaton workers’ compensation attorney to determine your options for seeking benefits. With years of experience advocating for injured Illinois workers, we understand how to analyze your case so that we can provide you with an accurate and realistic assessment of your claim.

Are Psychiatric Injuries Covered Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act?

Many occupations expose workers to dangerous, violent, or traumatic situations. Workplace accidents often lead to physical injuries that are obvious and easy to identify. However, some employees experience psychiatric and/or mental health injuries due to a work accident.

Generally speaking, the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act (IWCA) does not cover most mental stresses. However, there is an exception for psychiatric injuries, which are covered by the law. Under IWCA, an employee suffers a psychological injury when he or she suffers a sudden and severe emotional shock which is traceable to a definite time and place. In other words, it must be shown that the worker suffered from a sudden and shocking event, that the mental trauma he or she underwent as a result was extraordinary, and that the work condition substantially caused the psychiatric injury.

There is no requirement that the psychiatric injury be accompanied by a physical injury in order for it to be compensable. For instance, a worker who sees an accident in which someone dies at work or is exposed to a comparable traumatic event at the workplace may be deemed to have suffered a psychiatric injury that is compensable under IWCA. An experienced work injury lawyer can assess whether the facts of your case may make you likely to qualify for benefits.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act

Workers’ compensation is a kind of insurance that pays financial benefits to employees who become injured, ill, or disabled while engaging in a task related to employment. The insurance premiums are paid completely by the employer and are free for the employee. Under the IWCA, employees who suffer on-the-job illness or injury are entitled to recover certain workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the harm suffered. The IWCA requires workers’ compensation, for instance, to cover all medical care that is reasonably necessary to treat a worker’s injury or cure his or her illness. This includes first aid, emergency care, surgery, physical therapy and any medication that may be needed throughout the process. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is the government body that decides workers’ compensation claims between workers and employers.

Recovering Benefits for a Psychiatric Injury at Work

Psychiatric injuries can result in a significant disruption’s to one’s life, including an inability to focus and a number of lost workdays. This can adversely impact a person’s current job as well as their future job prospects. As such, a psychiatric injury can lead to immediate disability for which the worker can be entitled to benefits.

Schaumburg and Wheaton Attorneys for Injured Workers

While mental injuries are not as obvious as physical ones, they can be just as serious and debilitating for the person experiencing them. If you believe that you or someone close to you has suffered a psychiatric injury in the workplace, our highly skilled Schaumburg and Wheaton lawyers can help. At Therman Law Offices, we are dedicated to helping clients pursue the benefits they rightfully deserve for their harm. We know that workers’ compensation cases are complicated, and they can be even trickier when the injury involves mental health. However, you can rest assured that we will zealously advocate for your rights every step of the way. We represent clients from Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Elmwood Park, Edison Park, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Rosemont, and Mt. Prospect. For a free consultation regarding your case, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.