When a workplace accident leaves you injured, the physical pain is often just the beginning. Anxiety, stress and emotional turmoil can linger long after the initial injury, making it difficult to return to work or even daily life. Can you seek workers’ compensation for these emotional struggles?
Workers’ comp for mental injuries exists, but specific conditions apply
In Iowa, the law recognizes two primary mental injury-related situations:
- Mental-Physical cases: You may receive benefits if a physical injury directly caused your anxiety. For example, a construction worker develops debilitating anxiety after a scaffolding collapse.
- Mental-Mental cases: You might be eligible if a purely psychological event at work caused your anxiety. Imagine a teacher who develops severe anxiety after witnessing a violent incident in the classroom.
Iowa workers’ compensation laws generally do not cover standalone mental health conditions without a physical injury.
To prove such cases, you need strong evidence. This includes documentation of the workplace incident, medical records showing your anxiety diagnosis and possibly expert testimony that connects your condition to the work event.
Securing workers’ compensation for anxiety can be tricky. Insurance companies often investigate these claims more thoroughly than physical injuries. They may argue that your anxiety is not caused by work or that you already had it before getting hurt.
Time limits also apply to workers’ comp claims. You need to inform your employer about your injury within 90 days and submit a claim within two years from the injury date.
Do not let anxiety after a work injury go unaddressed
Seeking workers’ comp for anxiety after a work injury is not just about covering costs. It is about recognizing the full impact of your injury.
Your mental well-being is as valuable as your physical health. Take action, pursue the help you need and consult an attorney to file your claim successfully.
