Seeking benefits for work-related mental health issues can be a very difficult process. Workers Compensation Lawyers in Vero Beach FL help clients who believe they are justified in applying for these benefits because of their emotionally unhealthy work environment or a specific traumatic incident that took place there. They may be experiencing depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress, depending on the circumstances.
Problems With Evidence
Federal law states that workers should be compensated for mental health issues, but workers comp insurers tend to dispute these applications. Mental health disorders can be difficult to verify, and it’s even harder to confirm that the problem occurred because of the workplace. Attorneys with a firm such as Matheson, Horowitz & Devonmille provide counsel on how their clients can support their case in the most effective ways possible. For example, postings on social media that make it seem the person is doing well emotionally can seriously undermine the case.
Specific Traumatic Incidents
Sometimes a specific incident makes the evidence more definitive. A shooting in the workplace, for example, can justifiably be expected to cause post-traumatic stress in some of the survivors. But violence alone is not usually an adequate reason for a claim in occupations where encountering violent acts might be expected. The occupation of police officer is a primary example.
Gray Areas
Workers Compensation Lawyers in Vero Beach FL understand that sometimes these incidents occur as gray areas. For example, a paramedic expects to deal with disturbing accidents. Some accidents may leave this person with nightmares for months to come. Nevertheless, this worker probably does not think that he or she will ever be taken a hostage and held at gunpoint during an emergency situation. That kind of traumatic episode may make it very difficult to continue going to work.
Necessary Proof
Lawyers must prove that the stress encountered at the job was abnormal for what the position usually entails as well as for the expected levels of stress. There must also be medical evidence that the stress-related mental health condition has caused problems significant enough to prevent this individual from working full-time, at least for now.
