Injuries that qualify someone for workers’ compensation benefits are not always physical injuries. One of these injuries is referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This injury can qualify a worker for workers’ comp benefits. In addition, if you’re a police officer, state trooper, corrections officer, paramedic, EMT or a 911 dispatcher, you have special rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act, including a recent law which makes bringing a claim easier for first responders with PTSD.
At Osterbauer Law Firm, we are able to handle your workers’ compensation and PERA or MSRS disability claims to ensure you receive all of the money you are entitled to. When it comes to obtaining PTSD workers’ compensation benefits, Minneapolis police officers, firefighters and other first responders can depend on our experience and skill to advocate effectively to get the benefits they deserve.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that presents after an employee is exposed to a “life or death” event or repetitive trauma in the line of duty. For police officers, firefighters and other first responders, these events can occur at work on a daily basis. Due to this, first responders typically develop PTSD as a result of an accumulation of traumatic incidents over the course of their career, which may include responding the scenes of suicides and fatalities, severe injury calls involving children, homicide calls and investigations, sexual assault calls and investigations, motor vehicle accidents involving serious injuries, among many others.
The types and level of symptoms people may experience, and the duration of these symptoms may vary from person to person. In some cases, those with PTSD recover from the condition in a number of months. Others have symptoms for the remainder of their lives. Evidence suggests that the earlier people seek help for their symptoms of PTSD, the more likely it is that they will make a full recovery. Due to this, many police and fire departments are developing Employee Assistant Programs to provide debriefings after particularly traumatic calls and offer a certain number of free therapy sessions with a mental health specialist.
Can You Claim Workers’ Comp for PTSD in MN?
If an employee is diagnosed with PTSD by a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and he or she qualifies under the criteria designated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The only type of “stand alone” mental health claim that qualifies under Workers’ Compensation Act in the state of Minnesota is PTSD. Joe Osterbauer of Osterbauer Law Firm has worked on over a hundred cases involving first responders with PTSD, and she will guide you through the PERA/MSRS disability and workers’ compensation process to make sure you get all of the benefits you deserve.
At the Osterbauer Law Firm, our experienced St. Paul and Minneapolis PTSD attorneys can thoroughly review your case for PTSD workers’ comp and help you go after the benefits you deserve. If you are a first responder eligible for PERA or MSRS benefits, we will also determine which benefits you qualify for and make sure that you apply for the benefit that you maximize your total recovery. To set up a free consultation, give our law office a call today at 612-334-3434 or fill out our contact form and send us a message.
