Can You Receive Workers’ Comp for Psychiatric Injuries?

Aug 14,2018

Workers’ compensation laws exist to compensate employees for injuries or illnesses suffered on the job. Injuries do not always show up as a strained back or a broken wrist, though. Sometimes injuries can manifest as conditions like anxiety or depression, especially if the employee was under extraordinary stress at work. Are such psychiatric injuries covered under workers’ comp?

California workers’ comp law does cover psychiatric injuries. However, they are often more difficult to prove than physical injuries, and the employee must meet a strict set of requirements to qualify.

Psychiatric Injury Qualifications

The employee must have a mental disorder that has been diagnosed under accepted procedures.
The mental order must have required medical treatment or resulted in disability.
Unless the injury resulted from a sudden and extraordinary condition at work, the employee must have been working for the employer for at least six months prior to the injury.
The employee must be able to improve that experiences at work were the predominant cause of the psychiatric injury.

Psychiatric injuries that result from physical work-related injuries are usually easier to prove. For instance, if you suffered a severe injury on the job and spent weeks or months enduring chronic pain, it may be easier to prove that a mental illness such as depression was work-related. In any case, if you have suffered a psychiatric injury on the job, it is important to consult with an attorney experienced in workers’ compensation claims.

“Some stress at work is to be expected, but work environments should not be so extraordinarily stressful that workers suffer mental health injuries,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Take a look at these related articles:

Can You Make a Personal Injury Claim in Addition to Workers’ Compensation?

Can You Recover Punitive Damages in a Wrongful Death Case?

Workers Comp Cases in the Palm Springs Area

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, El Centro, and Yucca Valley, and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.