Most people who work feel stressed from time to time — whether it’s a big project that could mean a raise or a presentation that causes stress and worry. While some people may think their jobs are stressful or they have moments of stress in their workdays, others actually experience physical injuries due to the high demands and stress of their jobs.
It is important to note that Florida’s Workers’ Compensation laws do not provide benefits for workers who are only “stressed”. While stress can be crippling and cause anxiety, most workers who are stressed at work do not qualify to receive benefits under the law. However, if stress from a job causes a physical injury, then injured workers are able to collect workers’ compensation benefits for claims.
Stress can cause a person to develop high blood pressure, a nervous breakdown, or a heart attack. Unfortunately, stress can be hard to deal with and manage and can aggravate or cause an illness. When such as illness is related to work stress, employees who are affected by a stress-related injury may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Florida.
Understand Stress-Related Injuries
Were you working seven days a week because your boss gave you too much work? Were you being held to unrealistic deadlines? Was your boss yelling at you and screaming in your face? Then, did you experience a heart attack or another physical illness that caused you the inability to work? In most instances, you may be able to collect workers’ comp benefits for the injuries you suffered due to the stress of your job. Basically, any claim involving stress is really only allowed when accompanied by physical trauma.
When mean bosses, horrible co-workers, and unrealistic deadlines cause you stress that leads to an injury you sustained while you were working, you should be entitled to workers’ comp benefits in Florida. In addition, if you suffered a heart attack that didn’t occur at work but you believe the stress of your job contributed to the attack and negatively impacted your overall health condition, you may be entitled to the same benefits under the workers’ compensation system.
Workers’ Comp Benefits for Stress-Related Physical Injuries
Sometimes work-related stress can also cause a mental or psychiatric problem. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to collect benefits for these types of injuries, but it is possible. This is why it is essential that you have a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney on your side who can help strengthen your stress-related illness claim and help you get the outcome you are looking for.
In most cases, workers’ compensation claims that involve stress-related illnesses often are awarded compensation for medical expenses and temporary lost income while an injured worker is taking some time off of work. However, if stress causes physical injuries that produces permanent health problems, injured workers are entitled to disability benefits to replace their wages.
If you suffered a physical injury or mental impairment that prevents you from working, you need to find out about your rights under the law. Call the Law Offices of David Benenfeld at 866-9 HELP NOW or (954) 677-0155(954) 677-0155 to speak with a workers’ comp attorney today.
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