Learn whether witnessing a coworker’s injury or death at work can lead to a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia
Key points about workers’ comp for PTSD after witnessing a coworker’s injury or death:
- In Georgia, workers’ comp can cover PTSD but only if the affected worker is also physically injured in the same work-related accident.
- Georgia workers’ compensation does not cover PTSD caused solely by witnessing a coworker’s injury or death.
- If PTSD is covered, workers’ compensation may pay for medical treatment, counseling, medications, and lost wages.
No profession is completely free from stress. However, some workers are more likely than others to experience or witness traumatic events, including serious workplace accidents, catastrophic injuries, and even the death of a coworker.
In some cases, these experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that may cause symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and emotional distress.
While some states allow workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD and other work-related psychological injuries, the rules vary significantly from state to state.
In Georgia, workers’ comp will only cover PTSD if the worker suffers a physical injury in the same incident.
In this article, we’ll explain which workers face the highest risk of PTSD, when you may be able to get workers’ comp benefits for PTSD in Georgia, and how to file a claim.
If you were injured on the job and have questions about your rights after witnessing a traumatic workplace accident in Georgia, contact the experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at Gerber & Elkins for a free consultation.
Can you get PTSD from witnessing an injury?
Yes. Although PTSD is often associated with military combat, it can develop after any traumatic event. A worker may experience PTSD after witnessing a coworker suffer a severe injury, being present during a workplace fatality, witnessing a violent assault, surviving a workplace shooting, or observing another catastrophic accident.
Common symptoms of PTSD may include:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Nightmares
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
- Avoidance of certain people, places, or situations
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression or emotional numbness
Not everyone who witnesses a traumatic event develops PTSD. However, for some workers, the psychological effects can be severe enough that they interfere with their ability to return to work or carry out daily activities.
What jobs have the highest risk of PTSD?
Any worker can develop PTSD after witnessing a traumatic workplace event. However, certain occupations are more likely to expose employees to serious injuries, fatalities, violence, and other traumatic situations.
Examples include:
Workers in these professions may be more likely to experience injuries like amputations, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and severe burns that can be life-threatening and cause emotional trauma in coworkers who witness the event.
What Is NOT Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Georgia?
Learn the limits of workers’ compensation in Georgia.
Does Georgia workers’ compensation cover mental injuries?
Yes, in limited circumstances. Georgia workers’ compensation may cover PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions when they are connected to a work-related physical injury suffered by the employee.
For example, a worker who suffers a fracture after falling off scaffolding may later develop PTSD related to the accident. Similarly, an employee who becomes paralyzed after a work-related car accident may experience anxiety, depression, or other psychological symptoms during their recovery.
In situations like these, workers’ compensation may cover both the physical injury and the resulting psychological condition.
As with any workers’ compensation claim, medical evidence is typically needed to establish the connection between the workplace accident and the worker’s psychological symptoms.
Can I get workers’ comp for PTSD after witnessing a coworker’s serious injury or death?
In most cases, no. While witnessing a coworker’s injury or death can absolutely cause PTSD, Georgia workers’ compensation law generally requires the injured worker to have suffered a physical injury before PTSD and other psychological conditions can be covered.
The physical injury does not necessarily have to be catastrophic. For example, the law does not require a worker to suffer an amputation, paralysis, or another life-changing injury. However, there generally must be some type of work-related physical injury that causes the worker’s PTSD.
As a result, a worker who develops PTSD solely from witnessing a fatal fall, tractor accident, electrocution, air rage incident, or other traumatic workplace event will typically not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they were not physically injured themselves.
This rule often surprises workers because PTSD is a very real and potentially disabling condition. Unfortunately, Georgia workers’ compensation generally does not cover PTSD that results solely from witnessing a traumatic event involving someone else.
What workers’ comp benefits can I get for work-related PTSD in Georgia?
If your PTSD qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia, you may be entitled to medical treatment and benefits for lost wages.
Medical benefits may include:
- Psychological counseling and therapy
- Psychiatric treatment
- Prescription medications
- Other medically necessary treatment related to your condition
In some cases, workers may also be entitled to wage loss benefits if their PTSD prevents them from returning to work or limits their ability to earn the same income they earned before the workplace injury.
The specific benefits available depend on the severity of the condition, the medical evidence supporting the claim, and how the PTSD affects the worker’s ability to perform their job.
How do I file a workers’ comp claim for PTSD in Georgia?
If you’ve been injured at work in Georgia and would like to file a workers’ comp claim for PTSD, you should:
- Report the injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident.
- Seek appropriate medical and psychological treatment from an employer-approved doctor.
- File a claim by filling out and submitting Form WC-14 to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation within 1 year.
Because PTSD claims can be complex, it’s a good idea to have a local Georgia work injury lawyer help you gather the medical evidence needed to support your claim, especially if your claim is denied and you need to file an appeal.
Have questions about filing a workers’ comp claim for PTSD in Georgia?
PTSD can affect your life long after a traumatic workplace event is over. Unfortunately, Georgia workers’ compensation law places significant restrictions on psychological injury claims, particularly if you didn’t suffer a physical injury in the same incident.
Determining whether your condition qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits is not always straightforward, but we’re here to help.
With more than 100 years of combined experience handling workers’ compensation claims across Georgia, our team of Atlanta work injury attorneys can evaluate your situation, explain your options, and help you navigate the claims process.
If you’ve been injured at work in a traumatic accident and have questions about your right to benefits for PTSD, contact Gerber & Elkins Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today for a free consultation.
