Stop and think about all of the ways that an injury can be much more than just physical. Psychological injuries are not uncommon and can be as serious, if not more, than physical injuries. Depending on the industry you work in, you may be subjected to various difficult situations that could trigger the development of PTSD and other psychological disorders. PTSD can be extremely detrimental to an individual’s health and overall way of life. If you have suffered from a traumatic experience at work and have been diagnosed with PTSD as a result, you may have incurred medical bills and potentially lost time at work while healing from your trauma. This means that you likely are in need of medical expense coverage as well as indemnity checks to make up for lost compensation while you’re not on the job. One major question individuals have as it pertains to PTSD as a result of a work-related situation is if they will receive Workers’ Compensation benefits as a result of their psychological trauma.

Psychological injury coverage under the Workers’ Compensation system varies state by state and unfortunately, Georgia currently does not award Workers’ Compensation to workers with solely psychological injuries. There are many states that have begun to grant Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers, especially first responders, who have been involved in traumatic situations such as mass shootings or environmental disasters. The hope is that Georgia falls in line with these other states and opts to treat psychological injuries the same as physical injuries as it pertains to the Workers’ Compensation benefits..

Currently, Georgia only covers a psychological injury, such as PTSD, under Workers’ Compensation if it is paired with a physical injury. If you are suffering from a  psychological disorder due to a work-related incident, contact a Workers’ Compensation attorney as soon as possible. If you have also suffered from a physical injury along with your psychological injury, the Georgia Workers’ Compensation system covers you. However, if your psychological injury is not paired with a physical injury, it is still important to meet with an attorney to determine your options and the best course of action. Contact Poirier Law Firm today to speak with our experienced team who understands that the impact of a psychological injury can be just as severe as a psychical injury.